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Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)

Do you and your partner find yourselves stuck in patterns of conflict or emotional distance, even though you both care deeply about each other? Maybe you feel like you’re not on the same page anymore, struggling to connect or express your needs.

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is a research-backed approach designed to help couples strengthen their emotional bond. By focusing on the feelings and patterns that drive interactions, EFT helps you understand each other on a deeper level, rebuild trust, and create a more secure connection.

Developed by Dr. Sue Johnson in the 1980s, EFT has been proven effective for couples facing a range of challenges, from miscommunication to rebuilding after breaches of trust. It’s a compassionate and structured method that focuses on creating lasting emotional intimacy and a stronger partnership.




What Is Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)?

EFT helps couples identify and shift the emotional patterns that drive disconnection. It’s particularly effective for couples who feel stuck in repetitive arguments or emotional distance.




At Harlowe Counseling, we use EFT to support couples navigating:
  • Communication struggles, helping you express your needs and truly hear each other.
  • Emotional distance, rebuilding closeness and trust.
  • Parenting stress, fostering a stronger connection amid the demands of early parenthood.
  • Conflict and tension, addressing the deeper emotions fueling disagreements.
  • Rebuilding trust, offering tools to heal and reconnect after breaches of trust or difficult experiences.

How Does EFT Work, and Who Can It Help?

How EFT Can Help

EFT sessions are a safe and collaborative space to explore your emotions and relationship dynamics. The process often includes:
  1. Understanding your patterns, identifying the cycles of interaction that create conflict or disconnection.
  2. Exploring underlying emotions, addressing the fears or insecurities that may be driving reactive behaviors.
  3. Creating new ways of relating, fostering open communication, emotional safety, and deeper connection.

What Happens in an EFT Session?

For example, if frequent arguments leave one partner feeling unheard and the other feeling criticized, EFT helps both partners understand the emotions beneath their reactions and create new, healthier patterns of interaction.

At Harlowe Counseling, we’ve seen how transformative EFT can be for couples seeking a stronger, more connected relationship. Our therapists integrate EFT principles into sessions to help couples navigate communication challenges, rebuild trust, and foster emotional intimacy.

We often combine EFT with other approaches, such as Gottman-informed therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), to create a tailored experience that meets the unique needs of each couple.

Many couples appreciate how EFT focuses on building a secure and supportive bond, making it especially helpful during stressful life stages like early parenthood. Whether you’re working through conflict, rediscovering intimacy, or navigating a major life transition, EFT provides a compassionate and effective path forward.





















Why We Use EFT at Harlowe Counseling

Ready to Strengthen Your Emotional Connection?

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) can help you and your partner build trust, improve communication, and create a more secure and connected relationship.

Schedule a free consultation with Harlowe Counseling to explore how EFT can support your journey as a couple. There’s no obligation—just a chance to see if we’re the right fit for your needs.