Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
EFT-Informed Therapy
in Mount Pearl
& St. John's
Explore your emotions, understand relationship patterns, and develop a deeper connection with yourself and others through attachment-informed individual counselling.
What Is Emotionally Focused Therapy?
Understanding Emotions and the Need for Connection
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is an evidence-based, attachment-oriented approach developed by Dr. Sue Johnson and colleagues. It explores how emotions, attachment needs, and patterns of interaction influence the ways we experience ourselves and connect with others.
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EFT is perhaps best known for its use in couples therapy, where it helps partners understand recurring relationship patterns and develop greater emotional connection.
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However, its principles can also inform individual counselling by helping people explore their emotional experiences, recognize protective responses, and better understand how past and present relationships may influence their sense of safety and connection.
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Sometimes, we respond to difficult situations by withdrawing, becoming defensive, seeking reassurance, or struggling to express what we truly need. These responses can make sense when we understand the emotions and experiences beneath them.
EFT-informed work helps us approach these patterns with curiosity and compassion, creating opportunities for greater emotional awareness, understanding, and connection.
How Does It Work?
Understanding the Emotions Beneath Our Reactions
EFT-informed counselling helps us explore the connection between our emotional experiences, attachment needs, and the ways we respond to difficult situations.
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Often, the emotions we express on the surface are connected to more vulnerable feelings or unmet needs beneath them.
For example, someone might respond to a disagreement with frustration or defensiveness, while underneath they may be feeling hurt, afraid of rejection, or uncertain about whether their needs matter.
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By slowing down and exploring these experiences, we can begin to understand our emotional responses and develop new ways of relating to ourselves and others.
Protective Response
We may respond with people-pleasing, defensiveness, or anger to protect ourselves from feeling vulnerable or hurt.
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Deeper Emotions
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Beneath these response we may be feeling deeper emotions, such as fear, hurt or sadness.
Attachment Needs
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These emotions are often connected for our need for safety, belonging, connection or reassurance.
What Can EFT Help With?
Developing Healthier Connections with Yourself and Others
EFT-informed techniques may be helpful for people who want to better understand their emotional experiences, recognize recurring relationship patterns, and develop greater confidence in expressing their needs.
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Our early relationships and life experiences can influence how we respond to emotional closeness, conflict, rejection, and vulnerability.
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Exploring these patterns in counselling can help us develop greater self-awareness and more flexible ways of responding to ourselves and others.
EFT at True Life Therapy
A Compassionate, Attachment-Informed Approach
In our work together, we'll explore how your emotions, attachment experiences, and relationship patterns may be influencing the way you understand yourself and connect with others. We may identify recurring emotional responses, explore the needs beneath those responses, and develop greater awareness of how past experiences may influence present relationships.
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I incorporate EFT-informed principles alongside other therapeutic approaches, including Internal Family Systems (IFS), EMDR, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), DBT, and compassion-focused techniques, depending on your individual needs and goals.
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Please note: True Life Therapy offers individual counselling only. Although EFT is widely associated with couples therapy, I incorporate attachment-informed and emotion-focused principles into individual sessions when appropriate. This does not constitute couples therapy or a specialized EFIT treatment program.
Frequently Asked Questions
EFT FAQ
Trusted Resources
Want to Learn More About EFT?
For additional information about EFT, attachment theory, and emotionally focused approaches, you can explore the following resources.
International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT)
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Founded by Dr. Sue Johnson, ICEEFT is the central international organization for Emotionally Focused Therapy. It provides information about the model, training, research, and EFT approaches for couples, individuals, and families.
Hold Me Tight — Dr. Sue Johnson
A foundational, accessible book exploring attachment, emotional connection, and relationship patterns. Although written primarily for romantic partners, it offers useful insight into the attachment principles underlying EFT.
Curious About EFT?
Wondering If EFT-Informed Therapy Might Be Right for You?
You don't need to know which therapeutic approach is right for you before reaching out. We can talk about what you're experiencing, what you'd like to change, and whether EFT-informed techniques may be a helpful part of your individual counselling.