Emotionally focused couples therapy: Status and challenges.

Abstract

This article presents the basis for, and the research on, emotionally focused couples therapy (EFT), now recognized as one of the most researched and most effective approaches to changing distressed marital relationships. Drawing on attachment theory and the research on interactional patterns in distressed relationships, we describe the theoretical context of EFT. We then outline the nature of the clinical interventions used in EFT and the steps hypothesized to be crucial to couple change. The central role of accessing and working with emotional issues in the relationship context is highlighted. Following this presentation, we review both the outcome and process research on EFT and present meta‐anarytic data from randomized clinical trials to substantiate the clinical impact of EFT on couple adjustment. Finally, the empirical and clinical challenges facing EFT are summarized.

Attachment, A Matter of Substance: The Potential of Attachment Theory in the Treatment of Addictions

“…While some treatment models such as Emotionally Focused Therapy (Johnson et al 1999) incorporate attachment concepts, attachment-focused therapy for addictions treatment is rare. While altering an individual's attachment style may involve longer-term treatment, longitudinal studies of current shortterm substance abuse treatments suggest longer-term treatment may be necessary.…”

Modernizing Relationship Therapy through Social Thermoregulation Theory: Evidence, Hypotheses, and Explorations

“…EFT is a short-term relationship therapy focusing on (co-regulatory) patterns in interaction (Johnson, 1999;Johnson et al, 1999;Greenberg, 2004). Various potential patterns of interaction in relationships are described and targeted through this type of therapy, one that is rooted in attachment theory (Bowlby, 1969).…”

“…A few sessions of EFT have also been found to elicit greater emotional dependency on the partner (allowing to "distribute" the risk), as handholding after EFT reduced the stress experienced after electric shock through Coan et al's (2006) handholding paradigm . Johnson et al's (1999) ideas are reminiscent of Gottman and Levenson's (1992) idea of the "regulated couple" where a positive marital exchange, as a "bidirectional linkage of oscillating patterns. .…”

affects de crise conjugale :

“…Par ailleurs, du point de vue empirique, les publications retenues le sont en fonction de l'accent mis sur le rôle des affects en contexte de crise conjugale (Greenberg et Johnson, 1988;Greenberg, Ford, Alden et Johnson, 1993;Johnson, Hunsley et Schindler, 1999).…”