Therapy Approach

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) functions as a therapy model grounded in attachment science, leveraging the influence of emotion and attachment to foster secure connections among individuals of significance. Human flourishing is intrinsically tied to connection, and the anguish of disconnection from significant others is deeply felt. EFT actively cultivates secure attachment bonds, contributing to an overall sense of well-being.

Versatile in its application, EFT can be employed with individuals, couples, and families, aiming to assist individuals in expressing, exploring, and understanding their emotional reactions, behaviours, and thoughts. The ultimate objective is to empower individuals to connect with their core needs and the important individuals in their lives, paving the way for a more complete, satisfying, and interconnected existence.

While EFT is widely recognised for its innovative role in couples and relationship intervention, it has consistently been utilised in clinical practice with individuals and families. Particularly beneficial for clients grappling with depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, EFT imparts crucial skills. In the realm of EFT for individuals (EFiT), a notable distinction lies in corrective dialogues centering on the client's interaction with the therapist, representations of attachment figures, or aspects of self. Emphasising the constant construction of the self through interactions with others, EFT, across all its modalities, inherently underscores the relational aspect, addressing both the individual and the system.

EFiT centers around deepening one's self-awareness to fully participate in life. This impactful therapeutic model aids individuals by leveraging the therapeutic relationship and addressing their emotional world and attachment connections, fostering positive transformations. Enhancing mental health and well-being, EFiT guides individuals to befriend their inner world, unlocking richness and meaning in their lives.

Grounded in attachment science, EFiT is an individual therapy approach, aligned with other EFT modalities like EFCT for couples and EFFT for families. It integrates humanistic experiential interventions to reshape intrapsychic experiences and systemic engagement patterns with significant others. Emotion holds a central role, structuring inner experiences and interactions. EFiT prioritises understanding key interactional patterns in relationships, recognisingthat self-connection paves the way for clearer communication with significant individuals. The goal of EFiT is to establish a sense of security and balance within oneself and with their closest connections, seeing this as a fundamental path to human growth and adaptation.

In the realm of romantic partnerships and relationships, EFT delves into the repetitive choreography of interactions where couples find themselves entangled. In this intricate dance, partners unwittingly set off each other's attachment panic, prompting rigid and protective reactions. Ironically, their sincere attempts to fulfill emotional needs inadvertently trigger defensive responses, fostering distance and pain instead of the desired closeness and emotional sanctuary. This negative cycle, aptly termed a "dance," becomes familiar to intimately connected individuals, who often feel powerless to alter its steps.

Enter EFT, a transformative approach. Unlike mere communication skill enhancement, which may seem like a temporary fix, EFT seeks to empower partners to recognise their dance and gracefully exit it. The key lies in conveying clear messages about emotional needs without provoking defenses and fears in the other. EFT addresses the core of the issue by unveiling unspoken needs and fears, guiding partners to express these to each other. This process paves the way for a new dance—one marked by connection, safety, and security. EFT is not just emotionally poignant; it's profoundly fulfilling and meaningful. Remarkably, positive changes endure, as evidenced by research studies with follow-ups at three months and two years.