Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)

Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples (EFT) is a short-term, systematic and empirically tested therapy for couples. It focuses on creating and strengthening the emotional bond between partners by identifying and transforming the key moments that foster an adult loving relationship. EFT provides a language for healthy dependency between partners. It is an integrative model that looks within at how partners construct their emotional experience of relatedness and it looks between at how partners engage each other.

The primary goal of the model is to expand and reorganize the emotional responses of the couple. In the EFT model, both partners are seen as being part of cycle that pulls them into a negative reactive pattern. Once the cycle has been delineated, the goal is to unite the couple against the cycle instead of each other. With the cycle as the common enemy, the couple will learn new ways to react to each other, creating new emotional experiences. The process reduces couples conflict while creating a more secure emotional bond.

Rigorous studies during the past 20 years have shown 70-75% of couples who go through EFT recover from distress and are happy in their relationships. The results appear lasting, even with couples who are at high risk for divorce. EFT has been recognized by the American Psychological Association as an empirically proven form of couples therapy. For more information go to iceeft.com