Susan Johnson – 2-Day Intensive Online Course: Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for Difficult Couples Evidence-Based Techniques to Effectively Work With Challenging Couples

Outline

Couple Therapy

What’s Necessary to Create Secure, Lasting Bonds

• How not to get caught in the overwhelm
• Don’t label and get caught in finger pointing
• Going beyond looking at symptoms

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) & Attachment Theory

EFT Model – Secure Base for Effective Therapy

• Build a therapeutic alliance
• Reprocess and distill emotion
• Choreograph new interactions
• Restructure attachment
• Utilize the five basic moves of the EFT therapist
• Limitations of research & potential risks

Three Stages of EFT

The Structure, Moves, Interventions & Key Change Events

• Stage 1-De-escalation of Negative Cycles
  • Assessment
  • Identify negative cycle / attachment issues
  • Access underlying attachment emotions
  • Frame problem – cycle, attachment needs/ fears
• Stage 2-Restructuring Attachment
  • Access implicit needs, fears, models of self
  • Promote acceptance by other
  • Structure reach & respond – express attachment needs – bonding interactions
• Stage 3-Consolidation of the New Relationship and Future
  • Emotional attachment conflicts have been resolved
  • Relationship becomes a safe haven
  • Healing environment for both partners

Advanced Approaches for Difficult & Attachment Injured Couples

Affairs

• Relationship traumas that destroy trust
• How to create and communicate a healing narrative
• When healing attempts worsen the rift
• Shaping trust and reconciliation
• Resolve attachment injuries

Hostile and Escalated Couples

• Escalation because of trauma
• Establish an in-session safe base for partners in melt down – contain escalation
• Grasp the threats that trigger accusation and defence
• Understand the relationship between PTSD, trust and sexuality
• Address fear and safety
• Normalize and regulate over the top hyperarousal

Withdrawn Couples

• How to deal with lack of engagement from shut down, dismissing clients
• Stop stonewall and maximize engagement
• Address co-morbidities blocks in session
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Trauma
  • Sexuality
• Pinpoint blocks to constructive dependency
• Shape change events and graduated risk-taking

Couples with Past Injuries & Vulnerabilities

• Mini traumatic relationship injuries
  • I will never forgive you…
  • I will never rely on you…
  • You weren’t there…
• How to impasses in trust
• Create “hold me conversations”
• Attachment injury repair in EFT

The Future of Couple Interventions in the 21st Century

• Key changes and challenges in the field of couple therapy
• Use the map offered by attachment and EFT
• Normalize relationship application
• EFT for special populations