Emotion-focused couples therapy

ABSTRACT

Emotion-focused therapy for couples (EFT-C) is an empirically validated approach that views affect as the central force organizing couple’s interactions. Specifically, affect works through three primary systems of motivation: attachment, identity/validation and attraction/liking. This article outlines the theoretical framework of EFT-C, its intervention strategies and includes a review of research studies that support the efficacy of the approach, as well as the research that has focused on the process of change in EFT-C.

La thérapie de couple centrée sur les émotions

La thérapie de couple centrée sur les émotions (TCE-C) est une approche empiriquement validée qui considère l’affect comme la force organisatrice centrale des interactions du couple. L’affect fonctionne au travers de trois systèmes primaires de motivation: l’attachement, l’identité/validation et l’attraction /lien. Cet article souligne le cadre théorique de la TCE-C, ses interventions stratégiques et inclut une revue des études qui confortent l’efficacité de cette approche ainsi que les recherches qui ont ciblé le processus de changement dans la TCE-C.

Emotionsfokussierte Paar-Therapie

Emotionsfokussierte Paar-Therapie (EFT-C) ist ein empirisch validierter Ansatz, der den Affekt als die zentrale Kraft betrachtet, welche die Interaktion von Paaren organisiert. Wirkt Affekt durch drei primäre Motivations-Systeme: Bindung, Identität/Validierung und Anziehung/Gernhaben. Dieser Artikel skizziert den theoretischen Rahmen der EFT-C, ihre Interventions-Strategien und beinhaltet auch einen Überblick zu Forschungs-Studien, die die Wirksamkeit des Ansatzes stützen, so wie auch Forschung zum Prozess der Veränderung in der EFT-C.

Terapia de Parejas Enfocada en la Emoción

La terapia centrada en la emoción para parejas (TCR-P) es un enfoque validado empíricamente que las miradas afectan como la fuerza central que organiza las interacciones de la pareja. Este modelo la emoción funciona afectan los trabajos a través tres sistemas primarios de motivación: apego, identidad /validación y atracción /afición. Este artículo describe el marco teórico de TCR-P, sus estrategias de intervención e incluye una revisión de estudios de investigación que apoyan la eficacia del enfoque, así como la investigación que se ha centrado en el proceso de cambio enTCR-P.

Terapia de Casal Focada na Emoção

A Terapia de Casal Focada na Emoção (TFE-C) é uma abordagem apoiada empiricamente que perspetiva o afeto como sendo a força central que organiza a interação entre os casais. O afeto funciona em torno de três sistemas de motivação principais: vinculação, identidade/validação e atração/gostar. Este artigo destaca o enquadramento teórico da TFE-C e as suas estratégias de intervenção e inclui uma revisão de estudos de investigação que apoiam a eficácia da abordagem, bem como da investigação que se centrou no processo de mudança na TFE-C.

KEYWORDS:

• couples
• emotion
• psychotherapy research

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Catalina Woldarsky Meneses

Dr. Catalina Woldarsky Meneses, PhD, completed her doctorate degree in clinical psychology at York University under the direction of Dr. Leslie Greenberg. She has extensive training in emotion-focused therapy (EFT) for individuals and couples, and has been dedicated to studying how forgiveness unfolds in couples. Dr. Woldarsky Meneses is involved in training and supervising therapists learning EFT in Canada and Europe. She is currently based in Switzerland and works in private practice, while also teaching at Webster University.