Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
I use Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) to help couples understand what happens between them when they feel disconnected—and find a different way to reach for and respond to each other.
What is Emotionally Focused Therapy?
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) offers a modern way of understanding love relationships, rooted in attachment science, and their primary source of distress.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is an evidence-based approach that helps people better understand their emotions and the patterns that shape their relationships. Developed in the 1980s and grounded in attachment science, EFT is based on the idea that we are wired for connection. When we feel secure in ourselves and in our most important relationships, we are better able to turn toward one another, respond to each other, and navigate difficult moments without losing our sense of connection.
As a certified EFT couples therapist, I help you understand what happens when that sense of security gets threatened—and how the ways you each try to protect yourselves can unintentionally create more distance. Together, we’ll work on changing those patterns so that your relationship can feel safer, more responsive, and more connected.
Based on the work of Dr. Sue Johnson and the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT).
Is this right for me?
EFT can benefit couples, families, and individuals experiencing:
High conflict and fighting
Disconnection where one or both partners are withdrawn
Affairs or other betrayal
Mental health concerns (depression, anxiety, trauma/PTSD)
Serious illness
Sexual concerns
Needs not being met
Attachment insecurities in relationships
Desire to understand relationship patterns
Need for deeper emotional connection
EFT is rooted in Attachment Theory, which shows that we have innate needs to be Available, Responsive, and Emotionally Engaged (ARE) with our partners.
The primary source of distress between couples is when the answers to these ARE needs are increasingly "no." This leads to predictable negative cycles where both partners protest disconnection through criticism/demands or by withdrawing.
What to Expect From EFT
Emotionally Focused Therapy sessions look different from other types of therapy. Rather than focusing on communication skills or worksheets, EFT is an experiential method that focuses on emotions. You can expect:
Understanding your negative cycle – the repetitive pattern that keeps you stuck
Identifying the feelings, thoughts, and attachment needs that fuel your cycle
Discovering vulnerable emotions underneath anger or withdrawal
Learning to share vulnerably with your partner in new ways
Experiencing compassionate responses that invite connection rather than defensiveness
Building safer interactions that help you function better as a team
Developing tools to recover from difficult moments
The more you experience these safer interactions, the more secure your relationship becomes.
Click here if you’d like to learn more about EFT.
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Couples Counseling & Therapy
Reconnect with your partner through no-shame, no-blame therapy that helps you break negative cycles and build the close, lasting relationship you long for.
Start With a Free Consultation
One of the most important factors in the success of counseling is the relationship you have with your therapist. That's why I offer a no-cost, 20-minute phone consultation so you can get a sense of me and how it might feel to work together.