EFT Fundamentals Flashcards
Study the fundamentals of Emotionally Focused Therapy
What is the most empirically validated approach to couple therapy?
Emotionally Focused Therapy - EFT
e.g. (Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook)
Who is the primary developer of Emotionally Focused Therapy?
Susan Johnson
EFT looks both within and between, what are more therapeutic /psychological terms for these?
intrapsychic/intrapersonal and interpersonal
The EFT therapist is a ——- consultant
process
The EFT therapist ———— bonding events in the session which powerfully redefine the relationship
choreographs
The EFT therapist sometimes follows and sometimes leads, rather than being an expert, the EFT therapist works with the couple as a ————
collaborator
The EFT therapist doesn’t work in the there-and-then but rather the —- — —
here-and-now
The goal of EFT is to create what?
a secure bond between the partners
Is teaching communication skills part of EFT?
no
In EFT is insight considered sufficient to create lasting change?
no
In EFT the relationship is not considered a rational bargain but rather a —-
bond
EFT synthesises two approaches to combine the intrapersonal and interpersonal. Name the two approaches.
experiential and systemic
Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook
How many stages are there in EFT?
3
How many steps are there in EFT?
9
How many steps are there in stage one of EFT?
4
How many steps are there in stage two of EFT?
3
How many steps are there in stage three of EFT?
2
What is stage one of EFT?
De-escalation of the negative cycles of interaction
Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook
What is step one?
Creating an alliance and delineating conflict issues in the core attachment struggle
(Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook)
What is step two?
Identifying the negative interactional cycle
Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook
What is step three?
Accessing the unacknowledged emotions underlying interactional positions
(Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook)
What is step four?
Reframing the problem in terms of: the negative cycle, underlying emotions, and attachment needs.
The cycle is framed as the common enemy and the source of distress.
(Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook)
What is stage two?
Re-structuring the bond
previously called changing interactional positions
What is step 5?
Promoting identification with disowned attachment emotions, needs and aspects of self and integrating these into relationship interactions.
(Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook)
What is step 6?
Promoting acceptance of the partner’s experience and new interaction responses.
(Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook)
What is step 7?
Facilitating the expression of needs and wants, and creating emotional engagement and bonding events that
redefine the attachment between the partners.
(Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook)
What is stage three?
Consolidation
previously consolidation and integration
What is step 8?
Facilitating the emergence of new solutions to old relationship problems.
(Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook)
What is step 9?
Consolidating new positions and new cycles of
attachment behaviours.
(Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook)
How many major change events are there in EFT?
three
In which stages do the EFT change events take place?
stages one and two
Which change event takes place in stage one?
negative cycle de-escalation
Which change events take place in stage two?
withdrawer engagement
blamer softening
Which change event takes place in stage three?
none
Is negative cycle de-escalation first or second order change?
first-order change:
the way interactions are organised is still the same while elements of the cycle are somewhat modified
(Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook)
Are withdrawer engagement and blamer softening first order or second order change?
second-order change:
there is a change in the structure of the relationship itself
(Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook)
Pursuer or withdrawer?
‘I am livid, he let’s me down all the time and I am so lonely. He can’t keep doing this to me.’
Pursuer
Pursuer or withdrawer?
‘I always disappoint her, whatever I try. I know I opt out and hide in the shed but I don’t know what else to do.’
Withdrawer
In EFT who/what is the client?
the relationship
Who first articulated attachment theory?
John Bowlby
According to attachment theory what is the relationship between secure dependence and autonomy?
they are complementary
From the experiential or systemic root of EFT?
A focus on the necessity for a safe, collaborative therapeutic alliance.
Experiential
Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook
From the experiential or systemic root of EFT?
A focus on emotion
Experiential
Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook
From the experiential or systemic root of EFT?
A focus on a corrective emotional experience.
Change not being primarily the result of insight, ventilation of emotion, or improved skills.
Experiential
Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook
From the experiential or systemic root of EFT?
Looking at context as a whole and how its elements interact.
systemic
Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook
From the experiential or systemic root of EFT?
A focus on the process of interaction and how it is organised into stable self-maintaining patterns.
systemic
Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook
From the experiential or systemic root of EFT?
Causality is circular with no one behaviour simply causing another.
systemic
Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook
From the experiential or systemic root of EFT?
The therapist’s task is to change the negative rigid interactional cycle the couple consistently engage in.
systemic
Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook
From the experiential or systemic root of EFT?
The goal of interventions is to create a system that supports belonging and autonomy and fosters contact, while allowing for individual differences and desires.
systemic
Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook
What is both a crucial target and agent of change in couple therapy?
emotion
Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook
Is the creation of new emotional experience considered the most important factor in intrapsychic or interpersonal change?
both - intrapsychic and interpersonal
Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook
In EFT change occurs primarily through what two new things?
New emotional experience and new interactional events
Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook
In EFT does change occur primarily through catharsis, insight, or negotiation?
none
change occurs primarily through new emotional experiences and new interactional events
(Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook)
EFT couple assessment takes place during which steps?
1 & 2
Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook
In EFT assessment, what is the therapist’s primary focus?
Gaining an understanding of clients’ emotional experience of their partner and their relationship.
(Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook)
What is it that traps and distances the couple?
The negative interactive cycle.
Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook
Which skill is being used when the EFT therapist uses the clients words to clarify and deepen understanding?
empathic reflection
Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook
Which skill is being used when the EFT therapist joins with the client, using the client’s words and images?
empathic reflection
Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook
What 3 skills are most used in steps 1 &2?
Reflection
Validation
Reframing & catching the bullet
(Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook)
Attachment offers both a safe haven and a what?
secure base
Attachment offers both a secure base and a what?
safe haven
In early sessions what types of emotions may only be able to be guessed at?
primary emotions
Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook
What skill is used to affirm the client’s experience and convey to each partner that their emotions and experiences are legitimate and understandable in the context of their experience?
Validation
Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook
When clients are validated what are they more able to do with their feelings of shame and self-judgement?
regulate them
Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook
In stage one what does the EFT therapist do with secondary emotion?
validate it and place it in the context of both the client’s experience and the cycle
(Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook)
The EFT therapist has to take care that the validation of one partner doesn’t do what?
invalidate or alienate the other partner
Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook
If the EFT therapist rushes into reframing what might it do?
invalidate the client
Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook
When a client directs hurtful comments at the other the EFT therapist will interrupt, what skill is this called?
‘catching the bullet’
Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook
When the EFT therapist ‘catches the bullet’ she bypasses the aggression and instead focuses on what?
the underlying pain
Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook
Which skill is ‘catching the bullet’ one kind of?
reframing
Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook
What types of emotions does the EFT therapist want to discover and differentiate from one another?
secondary and primary
Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook
Which type of emotions might or might not be discovered in the first session?
primary
Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook
What is the client usually less able to do when his/her story is interrupted by strong affect? e.g. crying, flushing, biting lips, turning away, clenching fists.
continue speaking
Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook
What does an EFT therapist do when the client’s story is interrupted by strong affect?
focus on the response, give the message that it is safe and appropriate to share this experience here
(Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook)
What is understood as ‘being scripted by unmet attachment needs and attachment fears’?
negative interactive cycles
Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook
In the cycle, what is it that ‘not only reflects the person’s experience but also creates it’?
each partner’s position
Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook
What is the most common negative cycle and interactive positions?
pursue / withdraw
Johnson et al, 2005, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist - The Workbook
why do we need to have a map to romantic love?
SJ 2017 PCEP
so our interventions are ‘on target’
SJ 2017 PCEP
the essential element is that the therapist knows how to move into the emotional channel and ….
SJ 2017 PCEP
stay there WITH the client, discovering, ordering and distilling that client’s experience
SJ 2017 PCEP
What is Step One of the EFT Tango?
SJ 2017 PCEP
The therapist ‘reflects present process’ both within and between and invites fuller engagement, capturing the essence of what is happening in the session
What is Step Two of the EFT Tango?
SJ 2017 PCEP
The therapist ‘deepens a partner’s reality’
What is Step Three of the EFT Tango?
SJ 2017 PCEP
The therapist distils what has emerged in Step Two and shapes the partner’s a new formulation of their emotions, the new emotional music, into ‘new steps in an enactment’
What is Step Four of the EFT Tango?
SJ 2017 PCEP
The therapist ‘processes the enactment’ - ‘What does it feel like to say this?’ and validates the risk taken and also asks if the partner can take in the message and validates any difficulty.
What is Step Five of the EFT Tango?
SJ 2017 PCEP
The therapist moves to a meta-level and reflects the process, ‘integrating the new dance’ that has occurred. Therapist gives the message ‘you are capable, competent and can make sense of your emotions and of love and loving’.
The therapist does the 5 steps of the EFT Tango again and again through therapy, what changes?
SJ 2017 PCEP
it gathers intensity
