This community was born out of a desire to know that we are not alone in this precious and sacred work of helping people in their most important relationships.
And now we know from science that EFT is the most effective couples therapy around and the only therapy of any theoretical orientation or modality that can help people actually change their attachment style (which impacts everything!) to gain secure attachment!
Thus, the EFT Italy Community was born in 2019 (December 7 is our birthday!) so that we can fan the flames of this powerful therapy in our country, strengthen each other, and know that we are not alone!
Mission and Vision Statement
Here you are welcome!
Whether you are in a non-binary, two-spirit gender body, female or male. Whether you are gay, lesbian, trans, pansexual, bisexual, queer or heterosexual.
Whether your body seeks comfort and connection through religion or spirituality.
Whether you are indigenous, black, brown, Latino, Asian, or white.
Whether your body has seen many years or few.
Whatever the limitations of your body, you are welcome here.
Whatever background you come from. Welcome!
Our goal is to create a safe learning space for all.
We invite you to bring your whole self, your whole humanity, without fear of being discriminate.
We want you to feel welcome!
We will share this space and learn from each other!
This welcome phrase is inspired by Robin William Blake & Lorrie Brubacher and taken up and rewritten by EFT Quebec
Considering that relationships are at the core of the human experience, and that the last 35 years of research on relationships indicate that emotionally fulfilling relationships are integral to mental and physical health, and that emotionally focused interventions have the power to establish and recreate supportive emotional bonds between people, we support the development of a culture of connection as a social and human resource in the face of the difficulties of existence, through the creation and development of a cohesive, loyal, mutually supportive, collaborative community of EFT therapists that provides a secure foundation for developing this powerful clinical approach.
We are, therefore, committed to understanding and improving couple and family relationships by emphasizing emotions and their impact at the interpersonal level.
Indeed, we believe that all people can maximize their potential if provided with a nurturing social environment, which we seek to foster in our work with our clients and within the community with our colleagues.
You are invited to join and grow with us!
Member Responsibilities
Support for the Mission
Members uphold the mission of the EFT Italia Community and ICEEFT by promoting Emotionally Focused Therapy in an ethical, compassionate manner, aligned with the core values of the community.
Contribution to Initiatives
Members are required to pay membership fees, as specified, to support activities, training programs, and projects that foster the growth and development of EFT both regionally and globally.
Promotion of EFT and Research
Members actively commit to advancing the dissemination of EFT, related scientific research, and initiatives that strengthen evidence-based clinical practice and foster a sense of community among professionals.
Active Participation
Whenever possible, members are encouraged to volunteer in committees, initiatives, or activities of the EFT Italia Community and/or ICEEFT. Active participation strengthens the sense of belonging and promotes enriching exchanges for everyone.
Ethics and Respect
Each member adopts an ethical, open, and respectful stance, avoiding competitive or divisive behavior. It is essential to acknowledge and value the contributions of colleagues, fostering a collaborative and trust-based environment.
Appropriate Use of Platforms
The platforms of EFT Italia Community and ICEEFT should not be used to promote activities unrelated to EFT, ICEEFT, or affiliated Centers and Communities. All interactions must reflect integrity, professionalism, and alignment with the community’s values.
Open and Inclusive Dialogue
Members are encouraged to foster open and constructive dialogue, respecting diverse perspectives and contributing to an environment that values discussion and learning.
Culture of Generosity
Members are invited to share resources, ideas, and knowledge generously, fostering a community culture rooted in mutual support and the desire for collective growth.
Ambassadors of Community Values
Members represent the EFT Italia Community even outside official platforms. It is essential to act as ambassadors of its values, preserving its integrity and reputation in all professional, public, and private contexts.
Valuing Diversity
The EFT Italia Community is committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and respectful space for people of all backgrounds, identities, sexual orientations, religions, and cultures. Each member is called to appreciate the richness that diversity brings, encouraging mutual understanding and embracing differences as a resource for individual and collective growth.
In light of these guiding principles, our therapeutic contact with clients will be characterized by:
Respect, Collaboration, Empathic Responsiveness, and Authenticity:
We commit to creating a safe and welcoming environment where every client feels valued in their uniqueness. The therapeutic relationship will be grounded in open dialogue, attentive listening, and genuine connection, fostering a sense of trust and cooperation.
Interventions Based on the Highest Ethical Standards:
We operate with respect for the dignity and rights of every individual, maintaining integrity and transparency in all aspects of therapeutic work. Interventions will be guided by a professional code of ethics prioritizing client well-being, avoiding conflicts of interest, and always acting with honesty and professional responsibility.
Interventions Based on Current Empirical Research:
Our therapeutic practices are grounded in up-to-date scientific evidence, ensuring an effective and personalized approach. We are committed to ongoing professional development, integrating the latest findings in attachment theory, neuroscience, and clinical research to provide high-quality interventions.
Promotion of Inclusivity and Respect for Diversity:
We welcome individuals of all identities, cultures, and orientations with openness, striving to build an inclusive therapeutic context. We recognize the value of diversity as a resource for change and individual and relational well-being.
EFT Italy leadership
Giulia Altera
President and Community Leader for EFT Italy for Emotionally Focused Therapy. – Trainer, Supervisor, and Certified Therapist in EFT through ICEEFT
Andrea Pagani
Vice President for EFT Italy, Trainer, Supervisor, and Certified Therapist in EFT through ICEEFT.
ICEEFT Stance on Diversity
We aim to cultivate a climate of inclusion, an environment where all can feel safe, valued, cared for, and given an opportunity to form meaningful connections with each other. In all facets of our work we strive to embody what we hope to see in the world — a just, loving humanity and community in which people are free to be themselves fully — where people can embrace their most basic universal human attachment needs without fear of persecution or marginalization as a result of religion, race, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, gender expression, age, class, mental health, physical character or ability. These values are inherent in the attachment science and humanistic approach to intervention that all our work is based on.
Specifically, humanistic approaches such as EFT are collaborative and respectful. We create a safe place for people and treat them as persons, not problems or types. Our approach is non-pathologizing in practice.
Our values are inclusive and egalitarian while viewing human connection as sacred — something to be honoured and cultivated.
Our scientific and theoretical base outlines key universals, emotion and attachment, while respecting individual differences.
ICEEFT Position Statement on Diversity and Racism
At the International Center for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) we are dedicated to developing secure, resilient individuals and successful trusting relationships between partners and within families across the globe. As such, we stand against all forms of racism and discrimination and stand in support of the Black community. With new eyes, we condemn the abhorrent impact of systemic racism in our world, our societies, and in our own organization.
We are committed to listening, learning and growing, so that we can better embody our values of inclusion, equality and diversity. We can and will do better. As a community, we commit to becoming an anti-racist organization, working in close collaboration with our Diversity Committee, as well as with members in our community who have experienced marginalization. Together we will fight racism, both as a principle and as a tangible reality in our training programs, our clinical work and our interactions with communities across different countries and cultures.
Our renewed aim is to share our expertise and knowledge in the service of healing racial trauma, helping people value differences while affirming our common humanity. We will take a more focused and deliberate action to welcome and promote greater openness and compassion in all our endeavors.
With inclusion, equity, and diversity as foundational values, our work will continue to remain grounded in attachment science which asserts that we are all wired for connection and share common needs to be seen, valued and supported by others.
With so much to learn we will remain curious and committed to our aspirations to become an equitable organization where everyone can thrive—until we get it right. Working together we will get there.