Singapore University of Social Sciences

Emotion-Focused Therapy For Couples

Emotion-Focused Therapy For Couples (COU564)

Synopsis

Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) course offers a comprehensive theory of the love relationship and attachment between adults, as well as a process for addressing and healing distressed relationships. The experiential/systemic therapy focuses on helping spouses/ partners restructure the emotional responses that maintain their negative interaction patterns. The trainee therapist will be introduced to a series of nine therapeutic steps in EFT, and learn basic EFT skills to lead the couple away from conflict deadlock into new bonding interactions in their relationship.

Level: 5
Credit Units: 5
Presentation Pattern: Every July

Topics

  • Review of the Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) model
  • The Power of Emotions
  • Stages of EFT
  • EFT Macro/Micro Interventions
  • Step 1 and 2 Assessment and Cycles
  • Step 3 and 4: De-escalation
  • Step 5: Expand Emotions
  • Step 6: Heighten Emotions
  • Step 7: Re-engagement and Softening
  • Step 8 and 9: Consolidation
  • Special Issues in Couple Work
  • EFT Case Presentation/ Discussion

Learning Outcome

  • Appraise the theoretical underpinnings of Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) for Couples
  • Assess the ‘music of the dance’ between partners, and move the couple into effective loving and a relationship of interdependence
  • Formulate the way EFT tenets are linked to key emotions and events in interactions between spouses/partners
  • Compose interventions on accessing key elements of emotional distress and de-escalating destructive interaction patterns
  • Construct positive interactions that renew trust and intimacy or reduce destructive interaction patterns
  • Recommend the ways therapist is able to overcome therapeutic impasses in couple therapy in local contexts
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