Have you ever experienced overwhelming emotions, where you really can’t concentrate on daily tasks or feel sad, confused, or scared? If so, then you are not alone, it is not unusual for stress to make you experience many emotions and every year millions of people seek professional help to manage this intense emotional overflow.
Emotion-Focused Therapy or EFT is one such therapy that helps many individuals to explore, express and control their emotions in a healthy way. So, in this blog, we will help you understand what is EFT and how it can help you rediscover yourself.
Let’s begin!
What is Emotion-Focused Therapy?
Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) is a therapeutic approach used to improve awareness of your emotions and help you understand them better. According to EFT, emotion is a guide that helps you make individual choices and decision-making. The therapy assumes that a lack of emotional awareness is harmful to one’s overall well-being and can lead to negative outcomes in life.
Therapists trained in emotionally-focused therapy can help individuals, couples, and families become more aware of their emotions and also offer them coping strategies to control overwhelming emotions.
Developed in the 80s by Canadian psychologists Leslie S Greenberg and Susan Johnson, Emotion-Focused Therapy is based on the notion that our needs are connected to our emotions, and working through these emotions can help individuals improve their interpersonal relationships and change their emotional state to a positive one.
Why is Emotionally Focused Therapy Different From Emotion-Focused Therapy?
Though, it sounds similar to the aforementioned therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy was developed by psychologist Susan Johnson in the 80s and is mainly a couples’ therapy with a focus on attachment theory which suggests that humans have a natural need to form close emotional bonds with others. Emotionally Focused Therapy helps couples and family members form a passionate bond which can help create stronger relationships and communication among the participants.
Techniques of Emotion-Focused Therapy
In Emotion-focused therapy both the therapist and client contribute to the overall result. During the session, the therapist guides and allows the client to interpret their own emotions rather than offering a direct perception from the therapist’s standpoint.
The technique used in emotion-focused therapy centered around two important foundational aspects and these are:-
- By increasing awareness and acceptance of feelings, one can arrive at their emotions.
- To prevent negative outcomes, one can transform their emotions into helpful information.
By using compassion, non-judgmental views, and a reflective approach to listening and questioning, therapists allow the clients to understand their emotions better, consequently, helping clients to learn ways to use healthy emotions to control their actions.
How Emotion-Focused Therapy Can Help You?
When you go through uncontrollable emotions it worsens your mental as well as physical well-being which may lead to mental conditions such as depression and anxiety. These conditions may force you to stay away from people or situations that may trigger unwanted emotions such as fear and worry.
However, through EFT, you can learn to use your emotions as a useful source of information and instead of repressing you may be able to turn these emotions into a positive experience. EFT deals with a wide range of mental illnesses such as eating disorders, borderline personality disorder, anxiety, interpersonal issues, childhood neglect trauma, couples in distress, etc.
Limitations of Emotion-Focused Therapy
Emotional-focused therapy has been in use for a very long time in hospitals and clinics and it is a scientifically proven therapy with 77% effectiveness. However, the therapy may not be suitable for everyone. For example, if someone is suffering from panic or impulse control then EFT may not be an appropriate solution. Another limitation that is attached to EFT is that, for the treatment to work, the client has to commit to the process and has to be completely open and honest with the therapist.
This therapeutic therapy is designed to improve one’s overall functioning, however, if your symptoms remain the same you need to consult your doctor.
Conclusion
Emotional-focused therapy and emotionally-focused therapy are two of the most scientifically proven approaches for treating a wide range of mental illnesses. These therapies allow couples, family members, and individuals to explore, express, and healthily manage their emotions and bring many positives to their lives.
If you are struggling to control your emotions or you are going through any of the aforementioned symptoms consider seeking emotionally focused therapy and rediscover your life.
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