Information about Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT)

• I help couples reconnect using EFCT, a structured, evidence-based approach for those caught in negative interaction cycles and feelings of disconnection.

• By exploring how you relate to one another and the patterns you get caught in, EFCT can help you find healthier ways to communicate and connect.

EFCT Sessions

Sessions 1–4 are assessment sessions.

• Session 1 – In this session I aim to get to know you as a couple, the difficulties you are currently facing, how your relationship has changed over time, and what you both hope to gain from therapy. It is also an opportunity for you to see whether you feel comfortable working with me.

• Sessions 2 & 3 – I meet with each of you individually. This helps me understand more about your personal histories and how these experiences may have shaped you as adults in relationships.

• Session 4 – We meet again as a couple and, if appropriate, begin the therapeutic work together. During this session we clarify your goals and start the EFCT process.

Ongoing Work

• In the first stage we focus on developing a clear understanding of the negative interaction cycles you get caught in. This awareness helps you interrupt these patterns, repair more quickly, and create space for healthier interactions.

• As these cycles become less dominant, we move into exploring each of your experiences, emotions, and needs at a deeper level. This work supports the development of a more connected and secure relationship that reflects both of you as individuals and as a couple.

• If it becomes clear at any point that I am not the right therapist for you, we will discuss this openly and explore alternative sources of support.

Number of Sessions

• The number of sessions depends on the depth of your difficulties and how receptive you both are to the therapeutic process. Some couples need only a few sessions to regain stability, while others choose to work longer-term to address deeper patterns and develop new ways of navigating future challenges. We will decide together what feels appropriate.

• If either of you has ongoing mental health difficulties or a history of trauma, longer-term therapy may be recommended.

Disclosures

• The focus of therapy is your relationship, even when individual sessions are part of the process.

• If you share something individually that you do not want your partner to know, this can interfere with the work. In such cases, you would need to commit to working towards sharing this with your partner, with my support. If you feel unable to do so, we may need to consider ending the couples work. If you wish to explore issues you do not intend to share, individual therapy alongside our work may be more appropriate.