Emotionally Focused Therapy

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) 


Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), developed by Sue Johnson and Les Greenberg, arose out of emotion theory and attachment theory. It views emotions as centrally important in the experience of self and in therapeutic change. From the EFT perspective, change occurs through awareness, regulation, reflection, and transformation of emotion within an empathic relationship.  


EFT posits that people must first arrive at a place before they can leave it. Therefore, an important goal is to deeply feel a maladaptive emotion (e.g., fear or shame) in order to transform it. Transformation occurs when the client accesses a new primary adaptive emotion in the session. An EFT therapist would guide both partners to express emotions that pull for compassion and connection.


Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotionally_focused_therapy