What is EFT?
Emotion-Focused or Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is originally developed as an intervention for couples. It now has evolved to serve individuals as well with the same principles of addressing underlying, suppressed emotions that need to be expressed and validated and promoting healing in relationships.
1
Emotions
Emotions are valuable information that are part of our experiences, which guide our perspectives and understanding, decision making, and meaning making.
2
Awareness and Acceptance
Increase the awareness of your emotions, both positive and negative, in an adaptive, healthy way, leading to acceptance of the experience.
3
Transform and Regulate
Bring a change of thinking, behaving, and adapting. Allow yourself to fully experience your emotions and release.
Noticing
Being curious about what is there to notice about your emotional experience
Tracking
Stay with the feelings and emotions, notice where they lead and what purpose they have
Validating
Take a moment to validate the emotions and experiences of your inner child that will bring deep healing
EFIT is effective in treating:
Adjustment Issues
During the course of life, anyone can face symptoms of distress in adjusting to life circumstances that are painful, challenging and confusing. This is relatively short-lived if paid attention carefully.
Disrupted Attachment
History of disrupted attachment in childhood can lead to long lasting impact in relationships in adulthood. This is closely related to self-regulation, sense of self, and connection with others.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD can be developed by experiencing or witnessing a significant negative life event such as accidents, natural disasters, physical injuries, medical diagnosis and its treatment procedures at any given time in the course of one's life.
Anxiety
Anxiety has many faces like social, generalized, panic, etc. Often times, symptoms of anxiety can represent a much deeper underlying issue. It also has different colors like worries (thoughts), body sensations (somatic), and overwhelming emotions.
Emotional Trauma
Profound psychological and emotional distress are experienced as a result of a deep disturbing or overwhelming event or series of events. This may come from emotionally painful relationships and dynamics in the family, intimate relationships, and even a broader group or community.
Sexual Trauma
Multitude layers of harm, including physical, emotional, and psychological pain, are experienced that may lead to fear, shame, guilt, self-blame, self-hatred, avoidance, disconnection from the body, and grief. Individuals are at risk of self-harm and heavy substance use for coping on their own.
Depression
Depressive symptoms can immobilize individuals with negative self-view, self-talk, and self-esteem. It feels like staying at the bottom of deep water.
Grief and Loss
Deeply personal experiences of losing someone or something of significant importance can require a grieving process to express, adjust, understand, accept, heal, and find meaning in life.
Suicidal Ideation or Self Harm
In the deepest pain of depression, we turn to ourselves for self-destruction. The emotional pain is so deep; you want it gone. It comes out by transferring it to physical pain.