Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)

EFT is a form of relationship therapy, in which the emotions and needs of both partners and love are central. We investigate together why things keep going wrong between you. The goal is to restore the connection (attachment) between the partners, EFT focuses on the essence of your relationship.

And that essence almost always turns out to be: wanting to be connected with your partner, wanting to be involved with each other. When you have a fight, you learn in traditional relationship therapy to talk this out more effectively. With EFT you can find out that arguing is often a cry for help to make contact. We work to restore trust, security and intimacy. Because we get to the heart of your relationship quickly, EFT is an effective relationship therapy.

EFT has three phases

During the EFT relationship therapy we go through 3 phases, in which the therapist naturally takes your situation and needs into account:

The first phase is the de-escalation phase. We make sure it doesn’t escalate anymore. We first look for the negative patterns that maintain your relationship problems. We work together to break those patterns and change your behavior.

The second phase is the connection phase. We provide depth. Now that you can get back into conversation, you can also be vulnerable again and rediscover yourself and each other. This provides a new emotional connection within the relationship, which provides a lot of security and changes the relationship for the better.

The third phase is the consolidation phase. You find new solutions for old problems. We practice with the new forms of connection, so that the relationship therapy has a lasting effect on the quality of the relationship. You are increasingly successful not to fall into old traps.

The ultimate goal of the therapy is that you can see, feel, articulate and dare to express your own and each other’s needs and desires again. This creates the new connection that revives the relationship.

EFT is an internationally known form of therapy

EFT has been scientifically researched several times and has grown into an internationally known form of therapy. Research results include:

• EFT has a strong positive effect on bonding in a partner relationship;
• the results show that there is very little relapse after EFT;
• EFT works at least as well as other relationship treatment methods.

For more information about EFT’s research results, visit the EFT Netherlands website Wetenschappelijk onderzoek EFT | EFT.

Contact Psychologen Amsterdam

Do you need help or do you just have a question about Emotionally Focused Therapy? Then call for an appointment or send a message to Psychologen Amsterdam.