Let’s Learn About EFT

Emotion focused therapy (EFT) is based on the theory that emotions are closely tied to identity through their ability to influence individual choice and decision making. Accordingly, a lack of emotional awareness, or the tendency to avoid unpleasant emotions, would result in the inability to use important information emotions provide – ultimately causing harm. Thus, EFT aims to help clients identify their emotions, learn how to use the information provided by the adaptive emotions, and better cope with and reduce the negative consequences of maladaptive emotions.

Emotion schemas are at the core of EFT, and are models that outline how emotions are somatically experienced, how they produce physiologic changes, how they influence thinking and guide future action. Accordingly, EFT aids clients to acknowledge and change their personal emotion schemas.

When is EFT Useful?

For example, treatment for anxiety using EFT would be justified by the fact that anxious clients often feel debilitated by their efforts to decrease fear and worry. Resultantly, they avoid the people or situations that provoke their anxiety. Enter EFT, which would aim to help clients view their emotions as valuable information sources rather than difficult states. Treatment would then focus on teaching clients how to experience, rather than avoid, these emotions. Thirdly, clients would learn how to regulate emotions, as well as become knowledgeable about the impact of adaptive emotions. However, it’s important to discuss with a therapist whether EFT is the right choice of therapy for you.