Emotion-focused therapy is a short-term (between eight and twenty sessions) and structured approach to couple therapy that was developed in the 1980s by Sue Johnson and Leslie Greenberg. This approach has family and individual use. EFT interventions use the experiential humanistic approach to reconstruct emotional experiences and the structural systemic approach to reconstruct interactions. A significant proportion of studies on the positive effect of EFT are available in the research literature, which indicates the large effect size of this type of treatment over time.

The EFT approach has been successfully applied to different couples and in different clinical settings such as private clinics, hospitals and educational centers. Preliminary research has been conducted on the use of EFT in the treatment of couples struggling with depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, terminal illness, and doubts about forgiveness. EFT has been used successfully across cultures, education levels, across North America, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Africa and Asia, for both traditional and non-traditional couples.

The strength of EFT is its focus on the modern science of romantic relationships. This model provides therapists with the following:

A clear focus on the elements of relationship distress that has recently emerged from studies of emotions, troubled relationships, and relationship satisfaction. In EFT, a clear map of communication problems and its strengths is presented, which is very precise and targeted.

The EFT approach is highly generalizable. This model has been successfully applied many times to a variety of dual problems.

A systematic set of strategies and interventions, the change process is defined in three stages and nine steps. Transformational events are carefully compiled and linked to results.

The EFT approach is the basis of the first coherent theory about adult love – the attachment theory, which has considerable validity. This insightful framework allows for a clear understanding of marital distress, the purpose of therapy, and the key gestures and moments that define a romantic relationship. EFT is able to identify the strengths of a couple’s bond. From this point of view, marital distress is institutionalized as a result of absorbing negative emotions.

According to the APA criteria, the EFT model is a treatment method that has been confirmed by empirical research. This model has been tested in different situations, by different researchers, and using different research methods. For example, EFT has not only been useful in treating infidelity, but follow-up studies have reported that the treatment results are stable.

While these emotions reflect rigid and inflexible patterns of interaction such as demanding/avoidant, they also reinforce them. These patterns become barriers to secure emotional engagement, which is a prerequisite for a secure emotional bond.

Objectives of EFT

Development and reorganization of key emotional responses

Creating a positive turn in the positions and interaction patterns of couples

Helping to create a safe emotional bond between couples