Online Training

Held in Translation

Emotionally Focused Therapy Across Cultures

Presenter: Brandon Liu, LMFT
Friday, September 26, 2025
11:00 am – 1:00 pm CDT
Virtual via Zoom

About the Workshop

Attachment is universal, but the way it’s expressed is always in translation, filtered through language, culture, and deeply rooted values. In this presentation, we’ll explore the emotional and cultural complexity of working with an East-Asian identified couple through the lens of Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy. Using clinical material alongside current research on attachment and cultural expression, we’ll reflect on what it means to apply EFT in ways that honor diversity and culture. We’ll also address common challenges EFT therapists face when working across cultural lines and offer practical, culturally responsive strategies for deepening connection in therapy. Whether you identify as culturally embedded, culturally curious, or both, this is a space for reflection and clinical growth. This workshop will meet the IDFPR CE cultural competency requirement for licensed health care professionals. 

Learning Objectives

1. Attendees will be able to identify key ways that cultural norms in East-Asian communities, such as emotional restraint, collectivism, and filial piety, can shape the expression of attachment needs in couples therapy.
2. Attendees will be able to describe three culturally responsive adaptations to EFT interventions that support emotional engagement with diverse clients.
3. Attendees will critically examine how Western assumptions embedded in attachment theory and EFT may limit their applicability across cultures, and reflect on ways to practice with cultural humility.

About the Presenter

Brandon Liu, LMFT

Brandon Liu is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, a certified Emotionally Focused Couples Therapist, and a supervisor-in-training. He is the owner of Hazakura Counseling and specializes in the treatment of Asian-identified couples, multicultural couples, Asian-identified men, and medical providers. Brandon is also serving as vice-president of the Community of Asian-American Therapists in Chicagoland (CAATCH). He is licensed in IL, WI, and IN and provides weekly ongoing therapy, adjunct therapy, and intensives for couples and individuals.

More Information

• • • CE Credit: Participants attending the seminar will earn 2 CE credits for attending the entire program.
      • Participants must attend the event live to receive CE credit. Partial credits will not be offered.
      • ChicagoEFT is approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs (#168.000220), Psychologists (#268.000137) and for LCSWs and LCPCs (#159.000961). ChicagoEFT maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
      • This workshop will meet the IDFPR CE cultural competency requirement for licensed health care professionals. 
    • Recording: This event will be recorded. Participants will have viewing access for 30 days after the event. No CEs are provided unless participants attend live.
    • More details will be sent out to all registrants after registration closes. Please add info@chicagoEFT.com to your contacts to avoid having this email sent to your spam folder.

Registration Cost
Non-members – $45
Members – $35

• • ChicagoEFT members – login to the website before registering to receive member rates. If you not yet a ChicagoEFT member, see our Membership page for more information on how to join today.
  • Registration closes Thursday, September 25th, 6:00 pm CDT.