Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for Couples

Curious about the Counselling Used at Couples In Step?

Counselling is an investment so you want to be assured that you receive effective and cost efficient counseling. Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT) is a method of couples counseling that boasts a 75% success rate in clinical studies. Couples In Step therapist Irene Oudyk-Suk, is a certified EFT couple’s therapist, and continues to train extensively in EFT. At the bottom of this page are two videos explaining EFT.

What is Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy or EFT?

Intuitively we know it is important for children to have a safe and secure bond with their parents. Research supports intuition. Fifty years of research on attachment theory, as this field of inquiry is called, has demonstrated conclusively that children thrive when they are safely and securely attached to their parents or caregivers.

Twenty years ago attachment researchers turned their attention to adult love relationships. With each passing year this field of research is establishing that adults in nurturing and emotionally responsive relationships with other adults are happier and healthier.

The emotionally focused, or EFT, approach to couples and marriage counseling is credited to Dr. Susan Johnson from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. You can learn more about Dr. Johnson from the International Center for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT) website.

EFT’s core premise

Just as children have an inborn need and innate ability to bond, or attach to their parents, adults in couple relationships also want to connect deeply with each other.

But sometimes wanting and intention isn’t enough, and couples struggle.

What problems does EFT help?

• Do you and your partner constantly argue?
• Are your arguments full of blame, accusation and attacks on each other?
• Do you frequently feel misunderstood?
• Does your partner withdraw, close up, sulk, or get defensive when you try to talk about important issues?
• Have you and your partner lost the ability to connect with each other? Have silence and sadness become a shared habit?

EFT is for couples who want to break away from the cycle of arguing, blaming, silence, and frustration. EFT is for couples who want to reconnect.

EFT is effective

EFT has been validated by twenty years of empirical research.

Dr. John Gottman, perhaps North America’s best-known marriage counselor, with whom Irene has also trained, writes that, “EFT is a proven road map to the process of change in couple therapy.”

And the American Psychological Association notes that “EFT has achieved an astounding 75% success rate. Results are lasting!”

Videos explaining EFT

Now …

The couples page describes the couple’s therapy process in greater detail. These  success stories introduce you to people who have benefited from services at Couples In Step.

For more information or to schedule an appointment call Couples In Step at 416-459-0956, or email Couples In Step.