What offers EFT for professionals

1. A clear focus on the elements of relationship distress delineated by recent

research on emotion, relationship distress and relationship satisfaction. EFT offers

a map of relationship problems and strengths. It is on target.

2. A systematic set of strategies and interventions. The change process is

mapped into three stages and nine steps. Change events have been outlined and

linked to outcome. Process research has examined in-session change events and

key interventions.

3. EFT is accepted as an empirically validated intervention by the American

Psychological Association. It has been tested in different settings and by different

researchers using rigorous research techniques, for example with verification of

treatment fidelity. Follow-up results have been positive. It has proven its

effectiveness.

4. It has high generalizability in that is has been applied to many different kinds of

distressed couples facing many different kinds of problems. It has a broad

application.

5. It is based on the first coherent and substantially validated theory of adult love –

attachment theory. This explanatory framework allows for a coherent

understanding of the drama of distress, the goals of therapy and the key moves

and moments that define love relationships. EFT is able to address the strength of

the bond between partners.

EFT views relationship distress as maintained by absorbing states of negative emotion.

This emotion both reflects and primes rigid and constricted patterns of interaction, such

as demand-withdraw. These patterns make the safe emotional engagement necessary for

secure bonding impossible. The goals of EFT are: