What is Emotionally Focused Therapy?
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) focuses on improving emotional bonding and attachment between individuals. It was developed by Dr. Sue Johnson in the 1980s and has since gained popularity for couple and relationship therapy.
How does IH Psychotherapy utilize Emotionally Focused Therapy?
In line with EFT, we start by creating a safe and empathetic environment where clients can freely express their emotions and concerns. We recognize that emotions play a central role in shaping our experiences and behaviours, and thus, we actively explore and address emotions within therapy sessions.
By understanding the emotions underlying thoughts and actions, we help clients gain insights into their behaviours and how they impact their relationships and help improve the emotional connection between individuals, to facilitate secure and lasting bonds.
What are the tenets of Emotionally Focused Therapy?
1. Understanding Emotions: EFT recognizes that emotions play a significant role in human relationships and that emotional responses are often rooted in attachment needs.
2. Shaping Emotional Experience: EFT aims to reshape the emotional experiences between individuals, helping them develop more secure and fulfilling connections.
3. Expanding Emotional Responsiveness: The therapy works to enhance individuals’ emotional responsiveness and sensitivity towards each other’s needs and desires.
4. Restructuring Interactions: EFT focuses on restricting problematic patterns of interaction by identifying the negative cycles or patterns and replacing them with healthier, more secure interactions.
5. Creating Change: EFT aims to create lasting change in intimate relationships that leads to secure attachment, emotional connection, and overall relationship satisfaction.
What issues does Emotionally Focused Therapy address?
EFT is primarily used to treat relationship distress, particularly in couple and relationship therapy. It addresses issues such as communication difficulties, conflicts, intimacy problems, and relationship dissatisfaction. EFT helps couples develop healthier patterns of emotional communication, connection, and understanding.
What does research show about the effectiveness of Emotionally Focused Therapy?
Research on EFT has shown its effectiveness in multiple studies. Some key findings include:
1. Couples who undergo EFT experience significant improvements in relationship satisfaction and a decrease in relationship distress (Najafi et al., 2015).
2. EFT is effective in treating various relationship issues, including couples with depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and same-sex couples (Denton et al., 2012, Greenman & Johnson, 2012, Johnson, 2019).
3. EFT has shown positive effects on relationship stability even after therapy ends, with long-term follow-ups showing sustained improvements (Wiebe & Johnson, 2016).
Overall, research supported the effectiveness of EFT in facilitating emotional bonding, creating secure attachment, and improving relationship satisfaction for couples.
It’s important to note that research outcomes may vary across different populations and issues, and further research is ongoing to explore the effectiveness of EFT in different contexts. It’s always advisable to consult a trained professional and consider multiple sources of evidence to make informed decisions about therapy approaches.
References
Denton, W. H., Wittenborn, A. K., & Golden, R. N. (2012). Augmenting antidepressant medication treatment of depressed women with emotionally focused therapy for couples: A randomized pilot study. Journal of Marriage & Family Therapy, 38, 23-38. https://doi.org/1111/j.1752-0606.2012.00291.x
Greenman, P. S., & Johnson, S. M. (2012). United we stand: Emotionally focused therapy for couples in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 68, 561-569. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.21853
Johnson, S. M. (2019). The practice of emotionally focused couples therapy: Creating connection. Routledge.
Najafi, M., Soleimani, A. A., Ahmadi, K., Javidi, N., & Kamkar, E. H. (2015). The effectiveness of emotionally focused therapy on enhancing marital adjustment and quality of life among infertile couples with marital conflicts. International Journal of Fertility & Sterility, 9(2), 238-246. https://doi.org/10.22074/ijfs.2015.4245
Wiebe, S. A., & Johnson, S. M. (2016). A review of the research in emotionally focused therapy for couples. Since the development of EFT, efficacy and effectiveness. Family Process, x(x), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.1222