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Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy: Susan Johnson And Les Greenberg

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Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT) was created in the early 1980’s by Susan Johnson and Les Greenberg as a means to provide a humanistic/experiential and systemic approach to couple’s therapy. Both theorists conceptualized emotion as a means of relational communication and having the ability to create change. EFT also views the couple as doing a dance, as each partner tunes into the other, coordinating, moving, and acting in harmony (Furrow, Johnson, & Bradley, 2011). When a couple is able to harmonize their movement and become accessible to the other partner in times of need, a secure bond is formed, allowing the dance of the couple to be in sync and overcome relational distress. The therapist in EFT serves as the choreographer, assisting the couple through the necessary steps towards creating emotional safety and processing unmet attachment needs.
Underlying Theory Emotionally-Focused Couples Therapy (EFT) focuses on identifying interactional patterns in couples that cause relational distress. This model integrates the experiential work of Carl Rogers and systemic concepts of Salvador Minuchin (Johnson et al., 2005). Couples are said to be “stuck” in negative cycles …show more content…

Individuals reflect their inner process of how they deal with emotions through their attachment style. Some individuals respond differently towards the experience of rejection, such as becoming angry and acting out or shutting down and creating distance in order to self-soothe. How one views their own ability to receive love characterizes how individuals are able to create secure attachments in adult relationships (Johnson et al., 2005). An individual with an insecure attachment may internalize messages of not being able to trust attachment figures, internalizing the idea of not being worthy of love thus causing disruptive attachment styles. By understanding the components of close relationships, the therapist is able to facilitate the change process when using

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Tom may benefit from Attachment-Based intervention strategies where the therapist works with the patient to challenge and then resolve those who use avoidance as a coping skill in order deal with their painful past related to early attachment experiences (Foroughe & Muller, 2014). Tom may also benefit from the Bowen approach to Family Systems Therapy which works with the patient towards examining any overt sensitivity towards important relationships in their lives and enables the patient to develop positive coping skills to assist them in their distress over the opinions of others (MacKay,

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An Emotionally Focused Couples Therapist will work with couples to explore softer, rawer emotions underneath the escalating patterns of hostility. Creating new cycles of bonding interactions occur and replace negative cycles such as pursue-withdraw or criticize-defend. These positive cycles then become self-reinforcing and create permanent change. In a safe environment with the therapist, couples can express their more vulnerable sides with each other, and learn about themselves and each other in ways that are completely new, reassuring and more connected. Then the relationship becomes a safe haven and a healing environment for both partners.

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