Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
Strengthening the bonds that matter most through the science of attachment
What is Emotionally Focused Therapy?
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is an evidence-based approach to therapy developed by Dr. Sue Johnson in the 1980s. Grounded in attachment science — the understanding that humans are wired for connection — EFT helps people identify and change the emotional patterns that keep them stuck in cycles of conflict, withdrawal, or disconnection.
Unlike approaches that focus primarily on communication skills or behavior change, EFT goes deeper. It helps people access the underlying emotions — fear, hurt, longing, loneliness — that drive their responses in close relationships. When these deeper emotions are understood and expressed, new patterns of connection become possible.
Originally developed for couples, EFT has since been adapted for individuals and families. At Bountiful Counseling, we use EFT across all of these contexts because the core insight is the same: when people feel emotionally safe and securely connected, they thrive.
How EFT Works
EFT follows a clear, structured process that has been refined over 35 years of research and clinical practice. The work moves through three main stages:
Identifying the negative cycle
The first step is mapping out the pattern that keeps you stuck. In couples, this might be a pursue-withdraw cycle. In individuals, it might be a pattern of shutting down emotions or pushing people away when closeness feels threatening. Naming the cycle is the first step toward changing it.
Accessing deeper emotions
Beneath surface-level reactions like anger, frustration, or numbness are softer, more vulnerable emotions — fear of rejection, grief over lost connection, a deep longing to feel valued. EFT helps you access and express these emotions in a way that creates understanding and opens the door to change.
Creating new patterns of connection
As deeper emotions are expressed and received, new interactions begin to replace the old ones. Partners learn to turn toward each other instead of away. Individuals develop a more secure relationship with their own emotions and with the people who matter most to them. These new patterns become self-reinforcing over time.
Types of EFT
EFT is not just for couples. The same attachment-based principles apply to individuals and families, and specialized forms of EFT have been developed for each:
EFT for Couples (EFCT)
The original and most widely practiced form of EFT. EFCT helps couples identify the negative cycles that damage their connection — the arguments that go in circles, the walls that go up, the distance that grows between them. By accessing the attachment emotions underneath these patterns, couples learn to reach for each other in new ways and build a more secure bond. Learn more about our couples therapy services.
EFT for Individuals (EFIT)
EFIT applies attachment principles to individual therapy. It helps people who struggle with emotional regulation, who feel disconnected from their own feelings, or who find themselves repeating the same patterns in relationships. EFIT helps you develop a more secure relationship with yourself — understanding your emotional responses, soothing your own distress, and becoming more open to connection with others. Learn more about our individual therapy services.
EFT for Families (EFFT)
EFFT extends the EFT model to the family system. It helps parents and children (including adult children) repair emotional ruptures, strengthen bonds, and create a more secure family environment. EFFT is especially helpful when family relationships have been strained by conflict, life transitions, or emotional distance — helping family members understand each other's emotional needs and respond with greater care and attunement.
The Research Behind EFT
EFT is one of the most extensively researched approaches to therapy available today. Over 35 years of clinical research have demonstrated its effectiveness across a wide range of populations and presenting concerns.
The research shows that EFT is effective for approximately 70-75% of couples, with 90% showing significant improvement. These results are not just short-term gains — follow-up studies show that the changes made in EFT tend to last, because the therapy addresses the underlying attachment dynamics rather than just surface-level symptoms.
EFT has also been shown to be effective for individuals dealing with depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress, particularly when these issues are connected to attachment wounds or relational distress. The growing body of EFIT research supports what attachment science has long suggested: that healing happens in the context of safe, responsive relationships — including the therapeutic relationship itself.
EFT is recognized by the American Psychological Association (APA) as an empirically supported treatment, and training and certification are overseen by the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT).
Our Training in EFT
Both of our therapists have completed EFT externship and core skills training and are working toward certification through ICEEFT (International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy).
Paul Callister, PhD, CMHC, CGP has been practicing EFT since December 2017 and brings his experience as a PhD-level clinician and researcher to his work with couples and individuals. He integrates EFT with his understanding of attachment theory and relational dynamics.
Mara Callister, LCSW has been practicing EFT since November 2020, and couples therapy using the EFT approach is her primary clinical focus. With nearly two decades of clinical experience as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, she brings deep empathy and skill to helping couples find their way back to each other.
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