What is Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT)
“I feel so I am” could be the maxim of this original psychotherapeuticapproach named Emotion Focused Therapy. Emotion Focused Therapy, or EFT, belongs to the field of humanistic, existential and constructivist therapies. In these approaches, the quality of the relationshipbetween the client and the therapist is central and seen as one of the major driving forces of change. In EFT, a special focus is put on emotions asthey are consideredas an adaptive process, determinant in human experience and often at the origin of blockages and psychic difficulties. This emotional process consists of five steps: emergence of the emotion, consciousness, ownership (agency), expression, and completion. In other words, one enters this process by accessing and feeling the emotion, accepting and expressing it, in order to leave it and be able to move on up. At each stage a blockage can occur and the emotional state can be pushed back because it is unacceptable for the person for various reasons, including an early learning disturbing the emotional regulation. That is to say that in EFT, the emotional regulation is not suppression, inhibition or control of the emotion, but rather the conscious expression of it. Consequently, the EFT therapist is here to promote this process and accompany the client through his emotions, for some of them buried inside for a long time. To be able to provide this accompaniment, the therapist has to be empathetic, to know the universal emotional responses and to be clear with his own emotional reactions. Several tasks in the therapeutic process are described for a good accompaniment. The first thing to do for the therapist is to pay attention to specific markers signaling a problematic emotional state: it is a task of perceptual acuity that requires a strong commitment in the relationship. The therapist must be presentatall levels, cognitive, emotional, physical and even spiritual, whereas he remains in deep contact with himself. Meanwhile, he has to be sometimes directive, in order to lead the client through the emotional process, which is another therapeutic task. A permanent compromise must be found between pacing or leading the client. Finally, some techniques are used to support the therapist interventions, like the empty chair technique, well-known in Gestalt therapy.
EFT already has specific areas of interventions, and has proven its effectiveness in many fields: depression, psycho-trauma, especially attachment injuries, anxiety, eating disorders. EFT for personality disorders is being studied, in particular for borderline or avoidant personalities.
This method of therapy is promising and may be associated with other tools in an integrative perspective, especially when the emotional field needs to be treated. Despite its apparent simplicity, it requires sharp therapeutic skills and a real ability to empathize that is more than a posture, but a rare human quality.
Mots appris :
- Driving force of change : moteur du changement
- Buried inside : enfoui (à l’intérieur)
- Task : une tâche
- To prove its effectiveness : prouver son efficacité
- Avoidant personality : personnalité évitante