Process-research to Practice in Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy: A Map for Reflective Practice

ABSTRACT

Predictors of success and process of change research studies on Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT) have identified three active ingredients that are central to the success of EFT: Task alliance, experiential depth, and affiliative interactions. The goal of this paper is to provide concrete meaning to what the subtle details of the EFT process research findings look like in practice, in order to provide a process roadmap for implementing these key ingredients of change. Typically, process research describes processes that are important for the successful implementation of a therapeutic approach without delineating the specific meaning of these processes in concrete clinical terms. We elaborate on how the ingredients of change are defined and measured in process research studies. Exploring the specific elements of these active ingredients further illuminates their concrete meaning in everyday practice through specific interventions. We conclude with a clinical case example to illustrate following the process roadmap.

KEYWORDS:

• Emotionally focused therapy
• process research
• ingredients of change
• couple therapy
• therapist interventions