Emotion-focused couples therapy

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The emotionally focused therapy (EFT) is a structured short-term treatment for couples that systemic , connection-oriented and humanistic integrated approaches. It was founded in the early 1980s by Dr. Sue Johnson and Leslie Greenberg and has continuously developed it since then. EFT is one of the most widely used forms of couples therapy in the USA and some European countries (e.g. the Netherlands). It is still not very widespread in Germany.

EFT is used for a wide range of partnership problems in different contexts, for example for couples with depression, post-traumatic stress disorder or chronic illnesses.

Procedure in emotion-focused couples therapy

The procedure in emotion-focused couples therapy is divided into three phases and nine steps. These often flow into one another and cannot always be clearly separated.

Phase I: De-escalation of negative interaction cycles

In this phase, the couple therapist creates a safe environment for the couple in which they can open up with confidence and in which positive affects are strengthened. The focus is on de-escalating negative behaviors. The "relationship dance" is changed.

Step 1) Identify conflicts in which the central attachment conflict emerges

Step 2) Identify the cycle of negative interaction in which the conflict is manifesting

Step 3) Identify the emotions behind the conflict (primary and secondary emotions)

Step 4) Re-describe the problem with its emotions and needs within the framework of the recognized cycle. The cycle is seen as an enemy and a cause of partner alienation

Phase II: Strengthening the emotional connection and changing the interaction positions

In this stage, the couple's emotional bond is to be strengthened by opening up to each other in a new way and by remembering the actual relationship intentions.

Step 5) Create access to secret needs, emotions and self-views

Step 6) Encourage mutual acceptance of expressions of experience and new reactions

Step 7) Encourage the expression of needs and desires and the creation of emotional engagement and bonding events

Phase III: Consolidation and Integration

In this stage new behaviors and approaches to problems are created.

Step 8) Formulating new solutions to old problems

Step 9) Consolidation of new relationship positions and behaviors

See also

literature

  • Sue Johnson: Emotion Focused Couples Therapy Practice: Making Connections. Junfermann, 2010, ISBN 978-3873877146 .
  • Sue Johnson: Love Sense: The Revolutionary New Science of Romantic Relationships. Little, Brown and Company, 2013, ISBN 978-0316133760 .
  • Wood, ND, Crane, DR, Schaalje, GB, & Law, DD (2005) What works for whom: A meta-analytic review of marital and couples therapy in reference to marital distress. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 33, 273-287.
  • Johnson, SM, Moser, MB, Beckes, L., Smith, A., Dalgleish, T., et al. (2013) Soothing the Threatened Brain: Leveraging Contact Comfort with Emotionally Focused Therapy. PLoS ONE 8 (11): e79314. doi : 10.1371 / journal.pone.0079314 .
  • Johnson, S., Hunsley, J., Greenberg, L. & Schindler, D. (1999) Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy: Status & challenges (A meta-analysis). Journal of Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 6, 67-79. NOTE: Also listed under Outcome
  • Johnson, S. and Greenman, P. (2013), Commentary: Of Course It Is All About Attachment !. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy. doi : 10.1111 / jmft.12035
  • Greenman, P., & Johnson, S. (2013). Process Research on EFT for Couples: Linking Theory to Practice. Family Process, Special Issue on Couple Therapy, 52 (1), 46-61.
  • Zuccarini, DJ, Johnson, SM, Dalgleish, T. & Makinen, J. (2013) Forgiveness and reconciliation in Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples: The Client Change Process and Therapist Interventions. Journal of Marriage and Family Therapy, 39 (2), 148-162.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Johnson, SM (2004) Emotionally focused couples therapy: Empiricism and art. In T. Sexton, G. Weeks, & M. Robbins (Eds.), American Journal of Family Therapy, pp. 345-353. New York: Brunner / Routledge.
  2. ↑ Johnson, S. and Greenman, P. (2013), Commentary: Of Course It Is All About Attachment !. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy. doi : 10.1111 / jmft.12035 .
  3. ↑ Dessaulles, A., Johnson, SM & Denton, W. (2003) Emotion Focused Therapy for Couples in the Treatment of Depression: A Pilot Study. American Journal of Family Therapy, 31, 345-353.
  4. ↑ Dalton, J., Greeman, P., Classen, C., & Johnson, SM (2013) Nurturing Connections in the Aftermath of Childhood Trauma: A randomized controlled trial of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFT) for Female Survivors of Childhood Abuse . Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice, Vol. 2 (3) 209-221.
  5. ↑ LM McLean, T. Walton, G. Rodin, MJ Esplen, JM Jones: A couple-based intervention for patients and caregivers facing end-stage cancer: outcomes of a randomized controlled trial. In: Psycho-oncology. Volume 22, number 1, January 2013, pp. 28-38, doi : 10.1002 / pon.2046 , PMID 21919119 .