Emotionally focused therapy (EFT) is a cutting-edge method of intervention. EFT can be helpful for people with depression, anxiety, and even post-traumatic stress, and it comes in many different settings. Some of these are individualized, family, and couples therapy. For this article, though, I will stick to emotionally focused couples therapy (EFCT). The goal of EFCT is to help improve and create a better sense of attachment between two people and work as a highly effective intervention for various issues within a couple.
How Does it Work?
Basis
The idea behind EFCT is that you can combine ideas from attachment theories with elements of experiential and family therapy to make something extremely effective for working through various problems. EFT focuses on the importance of emotions for human survival, attachments, relationships, and interdependence. In EFCT, you will work through things relating to attachment and communication models, learning to understand and respond to them.
Process and Techniques
EFCT is aimed to be a short-term, structured approach to couples therapy. There are generally anywhere from 8-20 sessions involved. Many techniques can be used when dealing with EFCT, but there are three fundamental ones
The first technique is Stabilization or De-escalation. This method involves identifying what patterns are giving you stress and creating tension. Then you will work to de-escalate the conflict and understand attachment needs. This technique is especially powerful for helping people understand their insecurities and how they impact their relationships while acknowledging how their partner supports them.
Restructuring is the next step in these techniques. Restructuring is where you renew your connection and build a deeper, healthier bond by changing your communication patterns. This can help people be more compassionate and accepting of themselves and their partners and can also help increase their emotional attachment to each other.
Consolidation is the last technique I want to talk about. In this stage, you will revisit old problems and handle them using your new tools and systems. This helps couples see how the work they’ve been doing actually helps their relationship in real-time. This helps increase confidence in the newly strengthened bond.
Goals
EFCT has a few key goals. They are:
- Fostering the creation of a more secure emotional attachment between partners
- Creating positive shifts in interactions, positions, and patterns
- Expanding and re-organizing emotional responses and self
Finding an EFCT Therapist
EFCT is an effective intervention that can totally transform your relationships. If you’re interested in EFCT (or any variation of EFT), you can ask a medical provider if they have any recommendations, or you can look at therapist directories. Here at That Therapy Space, we have various therapists with various qualifications, so there’s sure to be an option that works for you. You can find us on our website at https://thattherapyspace.com/, by phone at (509) 800-7129, or by email at [email protected]. We are located in Liberty Lake, Washington, just minutes from Spokane, WA, and Coeur D’ Alene, ID.