Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) helps people to restructure their emotional reactions, in an effort to strengthen their relationships. This type of therapy was first developed for couples but can be adapted for individual therapy (emotionally focused individual therapy/EFIT) or family therapy (emotionally focused family therapy/EFFT). The principles of EFT are drawn from other therapies, such as attachment theory, family systems therapy and Gestalt therapy.

EFT helps individuals identify when their emotions are beneficial in aiding them through certain scenarios, and when they require to change unhelpful, maladaptive feelings. EFT also facilitates beneficial relationships by assisting people in comprehending the dynamics between themselves and their family members or partners. This allows for more efficient communication, behaviours, and thoughts.

In Emotion-Focused Therapy, different therapeutic processes are employed to reach particular objectives depending on the situation of the individual or couple. These processes are also called “therapeutic tasks” and have been identified by analyzing transcripts of psychotherapy sessions. These tasks can be divided into five categories: empathy-based, relating, experiencing, reprocessing and action.

Conditions and difficulties that can be dealt with through EFT include depression, anxiety, difficulties in relationships for couples, eating disorders, trauma and issues between family members. Generally, an EFT session lasts for about 45 minutes to an hour, although this may vary depending on the individual’s needs. If the individual is tackling a particular issue, the session may be shorter, whereas if they are exploring a wider range of topics, it may take longer.

EFT is a great tool for individuals looking to gain control over their emotions and increase their self-awareness and self-esteem. By developing strategies for dealing with difficult emotions, individuals can achieve greater emotional balance and improved mental health. EFT can also help individuals to navigate their relationships with others and better understand their emotions in order to facilitate more positive interactions.