Takeaway: It can be hard to make sense of intense, overwhelming feelings on your own. Thankfully, emotionally-focused therapy can help. Our Toronto EFT therapists can help you better understand your internal experience to improve your relationship with both yourself and others. Connect with us today to get started.
Are you feeling stuck in patterns that just don’t seem to change? Maybe you’re struggling in your relationships, feeling overwhelmed by emotions, or simply seeking a way to reconnect with yourself and others. That’s where Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) comes in. Whether you’re facing relationship issues, coping with anxiety or depression, or simply seeking support in your personal growth journey, EFT counselling offers a safe and supportive space to explore your emotions, heal past wounds, and create positive change.
Emotionally-focused therapy is a proven psychotherapy approach that was originally formulated and tested by Sue Johnson and Les Greenberg in 1985 to help individuals, couples, and families overcome distress and create healthier, more secure relationships. Today, the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT), located in Canada, conducts research and educates health professionals about the efficacy of EFT and its role in strengthening relationships.
During a typical emotion-focused therapy session, you can expect a safe and supportive environment where you can explore your emotions and experiences openly. Your therapist will guide you through conversations and exercises to help build awareness of underlying patterns of interaction and emotional responses. Through EFT counselling, you’ll gain insight into your feelings and behaviours, learn effective communication skills, and develop deeper connections with yourself and others.
People seek emotion-focused therapy (EFT) for a variety of reasons, such as relationship problems, emotional issues, eating disorders, or distressing experiences from the past. Here are just a few examples of why you might seek a therapist for EFT work:
Emotionally-focused couple therapy (EFCT) offers a transformative path for couples experiencing relationship problems such as communication breakdowns, conflicts, or emotional distance. By sharing context and delving into underlying emotions and attachment dynamics, emotionally-focused couple therapy helps couples rebuild trust, enhance intimacy, and cultivate healthier patterns of interaction.
Emotionally-focused individual therapy provides individuals grappling with anxious or depressive thoughts with a compassionate space to explore their emotions and develop coping strategies. By uncovering the root causes of emotional distress and addressing negative thought patterns, EFT helps individuals build resilience, identify and regulate emotions, learn adaptive skills, and cultivate a greater sense of self-compassion.
For families navigating transitions, such as divorce, blending families, attachment issues, or adjusting to life changes, emotionally-focused family therapy offers a roadmap for fostering healing and resilience for both parents and children. EFT family therapy can help navigate conflicts with greater empathy and understanding by fostering open communication and strengthening familial bonds.
EFT therapy provides a safe and validating space for individuals and partners to process and heal from trauma. Through the therapeutic journey, clients can release pent-up emotions, develop healthy coping mechanisms, and reclaim a sense of agency over their lives, paving the way for profound emotional growth and transformation.
Emotion-focused therapy (EFT) has demonstrated significant success in helping individuals, couples, and families achieve lasting positive outcomes. Research studies and clinical trials have consistently shown high rates of improvement in relationship satisfaction, emotional well-being, and overall functioning following EFT psychotherapy services.
A research study conducted by Sue Johnson and Les Greenburg indicated that approximately 70-75% of couples undergoing emotionally-focused therapy experience significant improvements in their relationships, with many reporting long-term benefits lasting years after treatment. Additionally, clients receiving emotionally-focused individual therapy for issues such as anxiety, depression, attachment issues, fear and trauma have shown notable reductions in symptoms and improved quality of life.
For more information on the efficacy of EFT, we encourage you to explore the following resources:
While emotion-focused therapy (EFT) has shown significant effectiveness in many cases, it’s important to acknowledge potential criticisms and limitations. Some critics argue that EFT may not be the best fit for every situation, particularly in cases where there are severe mental health issues requiring a different treatment approach. Additionally, aspects of EFT’s focus on emotional exploration and attachment dynamics may not resonate with everyone, and some clients may prefer alternative therapeutic modalities.
At The Therapy Centre, we recognize that each client’s needs are unique, which is why we offer a range of therapeutic approaches tailored to address diverse concerns. Our experienced mental health practitioners are trained in various evidence-based treatment techniques, ensuring that you receive the most suitable and effective treatment for your specific situation and goals.
The duration of emotion-focused therapy can vary depending on circumstances and individual or couple therapy goals. Typically, EFT is conducted over a series of sessions, with each session lasting approximately 60 to 90 minutes. The number of sessions needed can range from a few weeks to several months, depending on factors such as the complexity of issues, client readiness for change, and the pace of progress.
It’s important to note that each individual psychotherapy journey is unique, and the duration of support will be determined collaboratively between the client and the clinician. Your therapist will work closely with you to create a customized treatment plan that aligns with your goals, emotional needs, preferences, and progress throughout the therapeutic process.
Begin your search for EFT therapy Toronto here! At The Therapy Centre, our dedicated team of mental health practitioners is committed to providing a safe and supportive space for you to explore and express your emotions. We have skilled Psychologists, Social Workers and Psychotherapists who effectively treat a variety of issues that may be difficult to process on your own, from everyday challenges to traumatic events with more lasting impact, like the abuse, PTSD, death of a loved one, a life-altering accident, or a serious illness, as well as other mental health issues.
Our offices are located across the Greater Toronto area, at 2525 Old Bronte Road in Oakville, 849 Upper Wentworth Street in Hamilton, and in Toronto at 1849 Yonge St (Yonge and Davisville). We offer both in-person and Virtual Telehealth services, including secure phone sessions and videoconferencing.
Reach out to a registered psychotherapist today by contacting our team at (289) 291-0205 or info@thetherapycentre.ca