Name of Strategy or Intervention
Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy and Trauma
Synonyms
Emotionally Focused Therapy; EFT
Introduction
Emotional dysregulation, including numbing, is a primary hallmark of trauma and PTSD. Since emotions are the messenger of love, emotional dysregulation – especially the very understandable but problematic coping strategy of numbing – is particularly damaging in couple and family relationships. Emotionally focused couple therapy (EFT) (Johnson 2004) is particularly relevant in the conjoint treatment of trauma since it is based on adult attachment theory (Bowlby 1969) and prioritizes the processing of emotions so that each partner can send a clear emotional signal, a requirement to strengthen and repair their bond and heal trauma.
Theoretical Framework
EFT, an empirically validated approach, combines an experiential, intrapsychic focus with a systemic emphasis on cyclical interactional responses and patterns (Johnson 2004; see other chapters on EFT in...
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Bowlby, J. (1969). Attachment and loss: Vol. 1. Attachment. New York: Basic Books.
Bowlby, J. (1988). A secure base. New York: Basic Books.
Johnson, S. M. (2002). Emotionally focused couple therapy with trauma survivors: Strengthening attachment bonds. New York: Guilford.
Johnson, S. M. (2004). The practice of emotionally focused couple therapy: Creating connection (2nd ed.). New York: Brunner-Routledge.
Johnson, S. M., & Faller, G. (2011). Dancing with the dragon of trauma: EFT with couples who stand in harm’s way. In J. L. Furrow, S. M. Johnson, & B. Bradley (Eds.), The emotionally focused casebook: New directions in treating couples (pp. 165–192). New York: Routledge.
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Rheem, K., Campbell, T.L. (2019). Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy and Trauma. In: Lebow, J.L., Chambers, A.L., Breunlin, D.C. (eds) Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49425-8_898
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49425-8_898
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