What is Emotion-Focused Therapy?

Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) is an empirically supported psychotherapy, built on decades on scientific research. EFT grew out of person-centred, gestalt, and systemic therapy traditions. Scientific research has demonstrated both that the approach is effective for multiple difficulties, as well as supporting the process of change.

EFT is based on the understanding that emotions are a primary source of information that orientate us to what matters to us in the world. Our emotions effect the way we think, what we do, and what we remember.

EFT is further based on the understanding that most psychological problems have painful emotions at their core. When we are depressed, it is usually because an underlying sense of shame or worthlessness makes us feel hopeless about succeeding or getting the love we need. Similarly, when we have problematic behaviours such as drinking too much or procrastinating, it is often partly a way to cope with stress or difficult emotions like shame, fear or loneliness.

Consequently, dealing with these issues requires finding a way to cope with, regulate and ultimately transform the painful emotions. Therefore EFT focuses on working with closely with emotion in order to help people achieve therapeutic change.

To read more about the history and theory of EFT, see the chapter by Robert Elliott.

Emotion-Focused Couples Therapy

Emotion-Focused Therapy is widely regarded as one of the most evidenced based forms of couples therapy, with numerous scientific studies demonstrating its efficacy, as well as the process of change.

Our relationships are the center of our emotional worlds and our partners have a powerful effect on our emotional well being. If they are available, responsive and validating they have the ability to soothe us when we’re distressed, make us feel valued and bring joy and meaning to life. Similarly, their unavailability, lack of responsiveness or critical judgment can be an intense source of emotional distress.

This powerful emotional effect on each partner has on the other can lead to couples getting stuck in negative cycles where each partner, trying to protect themselves, also triggers the other. In this way partners can get trapped in cycles of protection and defense, or control and submit, leaving both to hurt and not getting what they need.

Emotion-Focused Couples Therapy focuses on breaking these cycles and helping couples find new ways to respond to each other that leave each other both feeling more connected and validated by the other. The therapy works to re-organise emotional responses in order to shift the couples cycles of interaction. Ultimately, the therapy aims to restore the emotional bond between partners, and promote healing and resolution to emotional injuries.

To read more about EFT for couples, see the chapter by Woldarsky Meneses.