❤️ EMOTIONALLY FOCUSED THERAPY (EFT)

Attachment Concepts, Core EFT Concepts, Stages of EFT, EFT Interventions, Exam-Style Scenarios, Comparisons, Memorization Anchors

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)

An attachment-based model that helps couples and families create secure emotional bonds.

Founder

Sue Johnson.

Theoretical Roots

Attachment theory and experiential therapy.

Core Assumption

Emotional distress comes from insecure attachment bonds.

Primary Focus

Emotional bonding and attachment needs.

View of Problems

Relationship distress results from unmet attachment needs.

Therapy Goal

Create secure attachment through emotional responsiveness.

Therapy Style

Structured, empathetic, and emotionally focused.

Time Orientation

Present-focused with attachment lens.

Attachment

Emotional bond providing safety and security.

Secure Attachment

Comfort with closeness and autonomy.

Anxious Attachment

Fear of abandonment and need for reassurance.

Avoidant Attachment

Discomfort with closeness and emotional dependence.

Attachment Injury

Traumatic relational event damaging trust.

Protest Polka

Repetitive negative interaction cycle driven by attachment fear.

Primary Emotion

Vulnerable emotions (fear, sadness).

Secondary Emotion

Reactive emotions (anger, withdrawal).

Negative Interaction Cycle

Repetitive pattern maintaining relationship distress.

Emotion as Organizer

Emotions guide behavior and connection.

Experiential Change

Emotional experience creates lasting change.

Secure Base

Relationship provides safety and support.

Accessibility

Emotional availability to partner.

Responsiveness

Sensitivity to partner’s needs.

Engagement

Emotional involvement and connection.

Stage 1

De-escalation of negative cycle.

Stage 2

Restructuring emotional responses and interactions.

Stage 3

Consolidation and integration of new patterns.

Tracking the Cycle

Identifying and naming negative interaction patterns.

Accessing Primary Emotions

Helping clients express vulnerable feelings.

Reframing

Recasting problems as attachment-related.

Enactments

Structured emotional interactions between partners.

Validation

Normalizing attachment needs.

Attachment Injury Repair

Healing relational trauma.

Empathic Reflection

Therapist mirrors emotional experience.

Scenario: “Therapist identifies cycle instead of blaming partner.”

Tracking the cycle.

Scenario: “Therapist helps client express fear beneath anger.”

Accessing primary emotion.

Scenario: “Therapist reframes conflict as unmet attachment need.”

EFT reframing.

Scenario: “Therapist facilitates emotional dialogue between partners.”

Enactment.

Scenario: “Therapist focuses on bonding rather than skills.”

EFT focus.

Scenario: “Therapist normalizes desire for closeness.”

Attachment validation.

Scenario: “Therapist repairs betrayal trauma.”

Attachment injury repair.

EFT vs. Gottman

EFT focuses on attachment; Gottman focuses on skills and behaviors.

EFT vs. CBT

EFT prioritizes emotion; CBT prioritizes cognition.

EFT vs. Bowenian

EFT increases emotional engagement; Bowen reduces emotional reactivity.

EFT vs. Experiential

EFT is structured and attachment-based.

EFT = Attachment

Everything goes back to bonding.

Cycle = Enemy

Partners vs. the cycle, not each other.

Primary = Soft

Vulnerable emotions.

Secondary = Loud

Anger and withdrawal.

Secure = Safe

Goal is safety and connection.