A Review of the Research in Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples

Summary & key facts

Researchers reviewed the published studies on Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples, or EFT. EFT is a short, research-backed therapy that comes from attachment theory, which is about how people seek closeness and safety in relationships. The review found that the research so far is strong enough to call EFT an evidence-based couples therapy. Scientists have also studied how EFT helps couples change and what makes therapy more likely to work, and they say more studies are needed with different kinds of couples and problems.

Key facts:

• Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples (EFT) is a brief therapy that comes from attachment theory, which looks at how people form close emotional bonds.
• Multiple studies and reviews have shown enough positive results for EFT that it meets or exceeds common standards for being called an evidence-based couples therapy.
• Researchers have not only tested if EFT works, but have also studied the process of change, meaning they look at how and why the therapy helps partners connect differently.
• The research team says future studies should test EFT with new kinds of couples and a wider range of relationship problems and cultural backgrounds.
• For people in real life, this means EFT is a therapy option with good research support, but it is still being tested in more situations and may not have proven results for every type of couple.

Abstract

Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples (EFT) is a brief evidence-based couple therapy based in attachment theory. Since the development of EFT, efficacy and effectiveness research has accumulated to address a range of couple concerns. EFT meets or exceeds the guidelines for classification as an evidence-based couple therapy outlined for couple and family research. Furthermore, EFT researchers have examined the process of change and predictors of outcome in EFT. Future research in EFT will continue to examine the process of change in EFT and test the efficacy and effectiveness of EFT in new applications and for couples of diverse backgrounds and concerns.

Topics

Attachment and Relationship Dynamics Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications

Categories

Psychology Social Psychology Social Sciences

Tags

Clinical psychology Family therapy Mathematical economics Mathematics Outcome (game theory) Psychology Psychotherapist

Conditions & symptoms

Feeling disconnected from others