Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is an evidence-based approach developed by Dr. Sue Johnson, grounded in attachment theory — the science of how humans form and maintain emotional bonds. EFT helps clients identify and transform the emotional patterns and attachment needs that drive distress in themselves and in their relationships.

EFT for Individuals

Individual EFT helps clients develop a more secure relationship with their own emotional experience — learning to access, tolerate, and work with emotions rather than avoiding or being overwhelmed by them. It is particularly effective for:

• Depression rooted in disconnection or loss
• Anxiety driven by attachment insecurity
• Trauma — especially relational and developmental trauma
• Chronic loneliness and difficulty forming close relationships
• Low self-worth and shame

EFT for Couples

Couples EFT is one of the most extensively researched couples therapy approaches, with strong evidence for its effectiveness in reducing relationship distress and increasing emotional connection. It helps partners identify the negative interaction cycles they get stuck in, understand the attachment needs underneath those cycles, and build new patterns of emotional responsiveness.

Cultural Considerations

EFT's emphasis on emotional vulnerability and attachment needs can intersect in complex ways with cultural norms around emotional expression, particularly for men of color and for clients from cultures where emotional restraint is valued. Our therapists navigate this with sensitivity — honoring cultural context while helping clients access the emotional connection that all humans need.