Failure in psychotherapy remains one of the least discussed and most difficult territories to navigate in contemporary clinical practice, especially when it involves models with strong empirical validation such as EFT. So, EFT Therapy Always Works Except When… From the Confessional of Our Failures Every so often, at conventions or during supervision and workshops, we… Read more »
On the cover of today’s post is a drawing of a newborn sleeping in the loving arms of their father. The little one has closed eyes, and their face is serene because they know they can surrender. There’s no fear, nothing to dread, no desire to leave. It’s exactly where they long to be: safe.… Read more »
Emotionally focused therapy teaches that disconnection panic is triggered when we feel distanced from those we love, triggering an alarm reaction in the brain similar to physical pain. This panic is a survival mechanism ingrained in our nervous system. People react in two main ways: with impetus, trying to get closer, or with withdrawal, protecting themselves from the pain. In reality, both behaviours express the need for connection and to feel safe. To regain harmony, it is essential to acknowledge the pain, show one’s heart with sincerity and listen to the other without defences. Emotional connection is a continuous give and take that strengthens the bond. The goal is to create a safe haven where one feels welcome and loved.
The amazing forest of the human soul, with the Emotionally Focused Therapy “compass”
Emotionally Focused Therapy works because it helps people-and not just couples-accept something that our world puts on the back burner, namely our need for love and secure connections.
Christmas is an ancient holiday that celebrates the end of darkness and the return of Light. It’s a celebration that makes ALMOST everyone happy, not everyone. For some, it’s a difficult and very painful time. The darkest time of the year! People who hate Christmas may be reminiscent of the Grinch or Dickens’ old Scrooge, but they are never monsters; they are often BROKEN HEARTS.
Love is a medicine, in the literal sense of the word: for the body and for the soul, it is both a cure, remedy, and magic capable of repairing the wounds of the heart, and a poison that can make us suffer to the point of illness.
When there is love in our lives, our bodies produce substances such as oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins that make us stronger, happier, and much healthier. Conversely, when love is lacking, precisely because it is a “drug,” it can become a drug that intoxicates our organism. Even a poison that prevents us from healing, or makes us sick.
What is love? How much does it matter in our lives? How and to what extent can it change them?
The first international EFT conference “Healing Relationships in Emotionally Focused Therapy” took place in Poznań. Trainer Giulia Altera brought a moving talk on the Pursuer Softening Change Event in Emotionally Focused Therapy.
The sexual dimension in the EFT model highlights the importance of physical and emotional closeness, following the path of Harry Harlow’s studies. These studies revealed how central the need for tenderness is in deep bonds, showing that sex among primates is not just a biological act but an experience of emotional connection. Face-to-face contact becomes… Read more »