Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy: The Science of Love and Bonding

Presented by Sue Johnson, EdD on 09-08-2016 at 9 a.m. Pacific (noon Eastern) to 11 a.m. Pacific (2 p.m. Eastern)

During this continuing education web conference, Dr. Sue Johnson will outline the Emotionally Focused Model of Couple Therapy (EFT) and how it illustrates the revolutionary new science of love and bonding. Dr. Johnson will summarize the new science and pinpoint its implications for couple therapists and counselors. This science offers a map for love and loving that allows the therapist to be on target: to go to the heart of the matter and shape new interactions that redefine the security of the bond between partners and create an environment of healing and growth.

The EFT model represents a high standard for empirical validation in the field of couple therapy and Dr. Johnson will briefly summarize this research. Her presentation will address the three main tasks of therapy: creating a safe-haven alliance, working to regulate and transform core emotions and emotional signals, and choreographing a couple’s dance to foster emotional connection and fulfill attachment needs.

This introductory instructional level web conference is designed to help clinicians: 

  1. Outline the laws of human bonding and how they operate in adult love relationships.
  2. List the stages and steps of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT).
  3. Explain at least two interventions of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT).
  4. Examine strategies for creating a safe-haven alliance in therapy.
  5. Describe how to set up new bonding interactions that redefine connection and change working models of attachment.

If you have any questions or concerns about this web conference, or would like more information, please contact us here.

Event Reviews from Members

I can't pick out one thing. It was all fantastic. Excellent introduction to EFT that got me really interested in pursuing it further and excited about the research base beneath it. - David Flowers, LPC-S, NCC

Sue Johnson is a master and hearing her work her magic makes me even more motivated to do the work I do with couples! I love listening to her; she motivates the work that I do! - Diane Thorp, LCSW

I found this entire workshop to be extraordinarily helpful. Dr. Johnson explains concepts clearly, is extremely knowledgeable, engaging, and entertaining. - Victoria Elf Raymond, PhD, LMFT

The questions and answers were really interesting and useful for knowing what to bring up in session and what sorts of questions to ask. A really great session. I'm such a fan of Sue Johnson and EFCT. - Catriona Waters, MA, MFTI​

Continuing Education (CE) Information

Two CE credits will be provided by GoodTherapy.org for attending this web conference in its entirety.

GoodTherapy.org is an Approved Education Provider by NAADAC, The Association for Addiction Professionals (provider #135463). Of the eight counselor skill groups ascribed to by NAADAC, this course is classified within counseling services.

GoodTherapy.org is an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEPTM) and may offer NBCC-approved clock hours for events that meet NBCC requirements.

GoodTherapy.org is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. GoodTherapy.org maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

GoodTherapy.org, SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #0395.

To receive CE credit hours for an archived event, you will need to complete a survey as well as a 12 or 15-question exam, verifying that you listened to or watched the event in its entirety. Archived CE events generally are considered "homestudy" by licensing boards.

Registration Information

Premium and Pro Membership with GoodTherapy includes access to this web conference at no additional cost, as well as other member benefits such as a profile listing in GoodTherapy's Therapist Directory. Not yet a member? Sign up for a Premium or Pro Membership, here.

Just want CE credits? Sign up for a monthly or annual CE Subscription with GoodTherapy to get unlimited access to our CE Program, including this event, other live CE web conferences, and hundreds of hours of homestudy courses.

Mental health professionals who are not members can access the homestudy recording for $15.50. Sign up here to purchase this CE course and earn a CE certificate.

If the event is canceled by GoodTherapy, registrants who purchased the event will be notified and the charge for the event will be refunded

If you have any questions or would like information regarding disability accommodations, please contact us.

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Meet the Presenter

Sue Johnson, EdD

Sue Johnson, EdD

Sue Johnson, EdD is the leading developer of Emotionally Focused Therapy (or EFT). She is a Professor Emeritus of Clinical Psychology at the University of Ottawa, Distinguished Research Professor in the Marital & Family Therapy Program at Alliant University in San Diego, Director of the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy and Director of the Ottawa Couple and Family Institute Inc.

Sue received her doctorate in Counseling Psychology from the University of British Columbia. She is a registered psychologist in the province of Ontario, Canada, and a member of the editorial boards of the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, the Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy, and the Journal of Family Psychology.

Dr. Johnson has received a variety of awards acknowledging her development of EFT and her significant contribution to the field of couple and family therapy and adult attachment. Her numerous honors include the Outstanding Contribution to the Field of Couple and Family Therapy Award from the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. She is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association.

Dr. Johnson has numerous publications in the field of couple therapy. Her most recent, "Soothing the Threatened Brain: Leveraging Contact Comfort through Emotionally Focused Therapy" (PLOS ONE) included a brain scan study showing how contact with a loving partner mitigates threat and fear responses. Dr. Johnson’s current book, Love Sense: The Revolutionary New Science in Romantic Relationships, outlines the new understanding of why and how we love based on scientific evidence and cutting-edge research. 

Dr. Johnson's other publications include:

For more information about Dr. Sue Johnson please visit www.drsuejohnson.com or The International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy website www.iceeft.com​.

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Continuing Education Provider Approvals

  • aceGoodTherapy.org is Approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. GoodTherapy.org maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
  • Logo GoodTherapy.org has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6380. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. GoodTherapy.org is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
  • Logo This course has been approved by GoodTherapy.org, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider #135463. GoodTherapy.org is responsible for all aspects of their programming.
  • GoodTherapy.org, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0395.
  • GoodTherapy.org, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0022 and for licensed mental health counselors #MHC-0031.

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