1. EFT is a research-validated approach to couple therapy: Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy was developed in the mid-1980’s by Dr. Les Greenberg and Dr. Sue Johnson. Since that time, dozens of outcome and process studies have demonstrated its effectiveness with a wide variety of populations and presenting problems. For more info on research: www.iceeft.com/images/PDFs/EFTResearch.pdf
2. A clearly delineated treatment model: The stages of treatment are clearly specified, beginning with De-escalation through Re-structuring to Consolidation, giving you a clear map for intervening with couples to facilitate lasting change.
3. An attachment view of couple distress: Couples high in conflict or disengagement can be challenging for any therapist. Attachment theory provides a powerful organizing lens that will help you understand the most common ways couples express relational distress.
4. Skills to work deeply with emotion: In EFT, emotion is both target and agent of change. A skilled EFT therapist evokes core emotions to create powerful enactments and unleash in-the-moment change events that help transform relationships.
5. Specialized training in couple therapy: Many mental health professionals receive scant training in couple therapy. And yet relationship distress is one of the most common reasons for entering therapy and increasingly, couples are seeking therapists trained in EFT.
6. Improvement in general psychotherapy skills: EFT’s humanistic orientation will likely enhance your ability to create a strong alliance that engages clients in the change process.
7. A meaningful, competence-driven certification process: ICEEFT has laid out a training process and requirements for the demonstration of competence that insure certified EFT therapists have met a high standard of EFT practice.
8. Eligibility for membership in ICEEFT: The International Centre for Excellence in EFT includes members from around the world and maintains a directory of practitioners who have begun formal EFT training and those who are certified. ICEEFT also publishes a quarterly newsletter and maintains an active member listserve.
9. A growing therapeutic community: Join almost 300 therapists who have participated in CCEFT Externships over the past 4 years and thousands more who have taken part at trainings around the country and across the world. Locally, EFT therapists support each other through peer consultation, a mutually supportive learning atmosphere and client referrals.
10. 28 ceu’s: The training virtually fulfills the biennial continuing education requirement for license renewal for social workers, licensed counselors, psychologists and marriage and family therapists in Illinois. By the way, this is about the equivalent of a 2 credit-hour college course – especially if you do the recommended preparatory and follow-up reading.