Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples
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This influential volume provides a comprehensive introduction to emotionally focused therapy (EFT): its theoretical foundations, techniques, and clinical practice. EFT is a structured approach that integrates intrapsychic and interpersonal perspectives to help couples create new, more satisfying interactional patterns. The authors illuminate the power of emotional experience in relationships and in the process of therapeutic change. The book is richly illustrated with case examples and session transcripts.
“Greenberg and Johnson's description of the implementation of emotionally focused therapy is lively and abounds with clinical insights. Clinical material and transcripts are used liberally to illustrate points, and the balance achieved between exposition and illustration results in a highly readable text. The course of emotionally focused therapy is brought to life in a detailed case example that provides an almost palpable sense of the therapy.”
—Contemporary Psychology
“One of the strengths of this work is the clinical examples. The interactions of the couples, heard both in short and long excerpts throughout the text, underscore therapist interventions as well as bring the nine-step process to life. The authors clearly demonstrate how negative interactions and conflict are decreased and trust and intimacy are increased when EFT is integrated into couple therapy....Highly recommended for beginning professionals as well as experienced professionals who wish to review the process or add a new dimension to their practice.”
—Journal of Family Psychotherapy
Table of Contents
I. Theory and Research
1. Emotion in Interaction
2. An Affective Systemic Approach
II. Practice
3. General Considerations
4. The Initial Interview
5. The Process of Therapy
6. Therapist Interventions
7. Clinical Issues
III. Effecting Change
8. The Process of Change
9. Epilogue: Integration
About the Authors
Leslie S. Greenberg, PhD, is Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus of Psychology and founder and former director of the Emotion-Focused Therapy Clinic at York University in Toronto, Canada.
Susan M. Johnson, EdD, is Professor Emeritus of Clinical Psychology at the University of Ottawa, Canada; Distinguished Research Professor in the Marital and Family Therapy Program at Alliant International University in San Diego; Director of the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (
www.iceeft.com); and Director of the Ottawa Couple and Family Institute. Widely published, she is the leading developer of emotionally focused therapy, which she teaches extensively in North America and internationally. Dr. Johnson is a recipient of honors including the Order of Canada—the highest civilian award given by the Canadian government, for outstanding achievement, dedication to the community, and service to the nation—and the Distinguished Contribution to Family Systems Research Award from the American Family Therapy Academy. Her website is
www.drsuejohnson.com.
Audience
Therapists and counselors who treat couples, including clinical psychologists, social workers, family therapists, psychiatrists, and pastoral counselors; clinical graduate students.
Course Use
Will serve as a text in graduate-level courses such as Marriage and Family Therapy, Couples Counseling, Social Work Practice with Families, Conjoint Therapy, Relationship Distress, and Treating Couples.