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EFT Therapy
What is EFT? How Can EFT Support Me?
Emotion-focused therapy (EFT) is an evidence-based approach that uses attachment theory to help create secure connections within the self and with others. EFT is designed to help people express, accept, regulate, and transform the emotions they experience. The approach of EFT is based on the principle of emotions being central to our experiences and relationships.
EFT is incorporated in order to support individuals within the scope of EFIT (Emotion Focused Individual Therapy) and Families through EFFT (Emotion Focused Family Therapy). The foundational principles of EFT are used when supporting these various populations, and then tailored to address the different issues faced such as individual anxiety, trauma, depression, and relationship and/or marital problems.
How Effective is EFT?
Emotion-focused therapy is shown to be effective for couples, and there has also been research on its effectiveness in treating depression, anxiety, and trauma.*
Research has shown that EFT helps couples develop skills that allow them to provide stronger support to each other and corrects patterns of behaviour.*
EFT has been further adapted to support the needs of individuals experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and complex trauma.*
When the principles of EFT are used in the context of a family, also known as EFFT, this supports the development of secure attachment and functional regulation*, which can help foster increased well-being for various members of the family.
Who EFT Can Help:
Emotion-focused therapy can be used to support many unique struggles and concerns that individuals may experience
EFT can be effective for:
Helping couples: EFT be used to help reduce conflict in the relationship by teaching the coupled individuals how to effectively discuss and identify negative interactions within the relationship, and strengthen their emotional bonds.
Individuals with anxiety: EFT can help differentiate between helpful and unhelpful emotions for better emotional self-regulation.
Individuals with depression: EFT can help you face situations you would avoid in your life with confidence, and help you develop the skills to cope with symptoms that may impact your mood or feelings.
Individuals with trauma: EFT can help the individual focus on their unresolved feelings and unmet needs in order to reprocess trauma feelings and memories, and work within these emotional processes to bring about change.
Supporting families: EFT can help with creating feelings of trust and communication within the family to build secure attachments, and work toward a comfortable environment where parents and children can openly discuss their problems to solve them.
What Does the Process of EFT Look Like?
Stage 2:
In stage 2, we focus on encouraging you to process and reflect on the emotional roots of these challenges. This is where an individual learns to express feelings, needs, and desires. You also learn to practice being compassionate and accepting of yourself.
The treatment process of emotion-focused therapy is broken down into stages. There are typically three stages, however, this can vary based on the situation and needs of an individual.
Stage 1:
In stage 1, the main focus is on identifying and expressing main concerns, negative behaviour patterns, and underlying emotions. At this stage, there is focus on working to correct attachment issues that contribute to the personal challenges you are facing.
Stage 3:
In stage 3, you apply these newfound solutions to old problems and integrate what you have learned about emotions into the relationship you have with yourself, and also with your relationships. This process gives tools and newfound knowledge on how to create and maintain healthier interactions and emotional connections moving forward.
Possibly you still have questions about EFT and what you can gain from it…
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Emotion-focused therapy is an approach that prioritizes the understanding of emotion and emotional regulation as central parts of an individual's experiences and relationship interactions. EFT is a fit for individuals who may feel disconnected from their feelings and who want to dive into their emotional experiences, especially if they feel that these themes are causing conflict in their lives. An emotion-focused therapy approach gives an awareness of your emotions and how to understand them. EFT has been established over time for individuals and families, and has shown its effectiveness for establishing better interactions between couples.
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After attending EFT sessions, there are many tools individuals take away that can support them. For example, you will learn to question harmful thoughts instead of acting on them, build stronger bonds with loved ones, understand past trauma, work toward healthy attachment behaviours, and acknowledge and identify the emotions happening in yourself and others.
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Attachment therapy modality is often used along with emotion-focused therapy (EFT) in the therapeutic space. EFT incorporates the theories and techniques from the attachment therapy approach in order to support individuals in strengthening their relationships by working toward a secure attachment.
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There is hope! The therapeutic journey can sometimes feel frustrating - and we are here to support and guide you every step of the way! EFT is an evidence-based approach that is effective for helping couples, families, and individuals, providing them with skills to increase personal, emotional and social wellbeing. We are here to validate your emotional experiences and encourage reflection and growth, so that you can gain tools to improve your relationships, and also develop an understanding of the dynamics you have towards your emotions.
Reaching Out for Support.
If you find you and/or your significant other are having conflicts, that you are struggling with your mental health, or that your family is experiencing personal difficulties, Healing Voices Psychotherapy is here to help. Please contact us at 705-715-9107 for a free 15-minute phone or virtual consultation, or click Book Now to schedule your first online EFT therapy session.