Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy
Emotion Focused Therapy for couples is a newer method of therapy designed to help couples embrace their emotions--negative emotions included--and constructively share those feelings with each other to heal their relationship. Research on EFT is ongoing, however many couples who have gone through the therapy reported improvements and recovery of a healthy relationship with mutual respect.
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History
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EFT was developed in the early 1980s by Dr. Sue Johnson and Dr. Les Greenberg. The doctors developed and improved EFT in private practice until 1985 when the theory was published. Since then, research and studies have been conducted confirming its effectiveness.
Function
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EFT releases each partner in the relationship from society-based gender roles that contribute to their problems. Freeing the partners from these biased, pre-determined roles typically allows each to open up about underlying emotions. Once each partner can effectively communicate personal needs, the other partner can respond appropriately.
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Features
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Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy is typically eight to 20 sessions long. The therapist usually meets with each of the partners individually at first, to find their underlying emotional issues. Progression is quickly made to see the patients as a couple to work through each of their emotions in a positive, controlled manner. The therapist works alongside, rather than asserting a controlling role. Major negative emotions, such as intense anger, are worked at until the underlying emotions are revealed, allowing the couple to move forward. Trust between the partners is crucial to a successful outcome.
Effects
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EFT is broken down into three phases, according to PsychPage.com.
Phase one is the assessment, which includes four steps: identifying the conflict; identifying the cycle where the conflict arises; uncovering underlying emotions; and reframing to avoid the partners falling victim to the same cycle.
Phase two contains three steps concentrating on changing these events: encourage a partner to identify disowned needs; encourage the other partner to accept these needs; and guide the couple to properly express their needs and wants.
Phase three is the consolidation of change, which features two steps: new solutions and consolidation. According to the Encarta dictionary, the term consolidation means the process that fixes memory when in conjunction with psychology. In other words, this is the point when the couple learns how to respond to situations and emotions in a positive manner, and how to pull themselves out of potentially negative cycles by referring to their new behavior.
Significance
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Working through these steps with a qualified therapist leads to the couple being able to appropriately inform each other of their needs. Instead of going through cycles of arguments such as "pursue and withdraw" cycles or "criticize and defend" cycles. Uncovering the cause for these emotional issues allows the couple to work together and as individuals to heal their relationship. According to PsychPage.com, couples that have gone through EFT report five common changes it invoked, including one partner changing her perception of her partner when he revealed an underlying feeling; learning to understand underlying feelings; learning to productively expressing emotional needs; taking responsibility and receiving validation for those needs.
According to published studies noted on PsychPage.com, 62 percent of couples improved at the end of therapy and 77 improved by their two year follow-up session. Fifteen percent of the couples were recovered at the termination of their therapy while 64 percent were recovered at their two year follow-up. Coultier's study found that seven percent of the couples had divorced by their two year follow-up compared to 38 percent of the couples in the control group.
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