Emotionally Focused Couple’s Therapy (EFCT): Reducing Distress in Adult Love Relationships

What is Emotionally Focused Couple’s (EFCT) Therapy?

Emotionally Focused Couple’s Therapy (EFCT), developed by Dr. Sue Johnson, is an experiential, systematic, evidence-based talk therapy that has been proven to help reduce distress in love relationships. As its name suggests, the model prioritizes the power of emotion as a key organizer of the inner experience of love relationships (Johnson et al., 2005).

Emotions, though a complex and subjective experience, are hardwired into us and unconsciously deployed and shared with those in relationships with us. EFCT also adopts a specific, psychological theory of close relationships that serves as guide to the territory of adult love – attachment theory.

What is Attachment Theory?

Initially developed by John Bowlby in the 1940s, attachment theory assumes that as humans, we are hardwired to form close, loving, connective bonds with safe others. Our earliest attachments bonds in childhood teach us about what it means to be close to another person and will shape our expectations of close relationships later in life (Johnson et al., 2005).

When we are securely attached in our relationship(s), we can trust that our partner will be accessible, responsive and engaged with us, especially in times of need. When we are insecurely attached, we cannot trust that those in relationship with us are truly safe and can be relied on. All human beings develop attachment strategies or styles that shape how we seek comfort, navigate closeness, express emotions, and manage vulnerability in relationships.

Some strategies are healthy and contribute to a positive self-esteem as well as safe and connected relationships. Some strategies can lead to disconnection, conflict, and/or loss of self when in close relationships.

What does an Emotionally Focused Couple’s Therapy session look like?

A therapist who is trained in EFCT will spend time creating a safe, egalitarian relationship with you and your partner. You will experience the therapist tracking, exploring and understanding how emotions direct the communication, connectiveness and safety in the relationship. The therapist will expand your emotional responses to include fears, longings and needs, and help you create new ways of being more accessible, responsive and engaged in your relationship.

You will be asked to feel your attachment-related fears and longings, better understand these feelings and share them directly with your partner. This therapist-led intervention is a cornerstone experience that makes EFCT a truly experiential process that can restructure even the most negative interactional cycles love relationships.

Emotionally Focused Couple’s Therapy typically lasts between 8 and 20 sessions, although this can vary depending on the relationship specific issues, commitment, and goals.

Emotionally Focused Couple’s Therapy has been extensively researched, developed and expanded to support relationships that are affected by trauma, complex trauma and various mental health diagnoses, as well as those in 2SLGBTQ++ relationships, non-monogamous, polyamorous and other alternative relationship structures.

Author:

Samantha Kerr is a Registered Clinical Social Work who has extensive post-graduate training in EFCT. She provides in-person services in Calgary, AB and virtual services throughout Alberta and Ontario.

Jan Pugh is a Registered Provisional Psychologist. She is trained in EFCT and provides services virtually and in-person in Calgary, AB.

If you are interested in learning more about EFCT and how it could help your relationship(s), please reach out for a free consult or send an email with any questions that you may have.

References:

Johnson, S., Bradley, B., Furrow, J., Lee, A., Palmer, G., Tilley, D., Woolley, S. (2005). Becoming an emotionally focused couple therapist. The workbook. Taylor & Francis Group: New York, NY.