This is part 2 of our series on Emotion-Focused Therapy. Do check out our Blogs for more instalments!
Welcome back, emotional explorers! In our last post, we dived into the core tenets and principles of Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT). Now, you might be wondering, “What does an actual EFT session look like?” Unlike lying on a couch and spilling your deepest secrets (although that can be part of it!), EFT sessions are a collaborative adventure into your emotional world.
Here’s a peek behind the EFT therapy curtain:
Building a Safe Space: The foundation of EFT is a safe and supportive environment. Your therapist will create a space where you feel comfortable expressing your emotions openly and honestly, without fear of judgment.
Identifying the Issue: We’ll start by exploring specific challenges you’re facing. This could be anything from anxiety around public speaking to current difficulties in your relationship.
Zeroing in on the Feelings: Once we’ve identified the issue, we’ll delve deeper into the emotions it triggers. Your therapist will guide you to differentiate and pinpoint the specific emotions you’re experiencing – anger, sadness, fear, or a mix of them all.
Expressing and Accepting: EFT encourages you to fully experience and express your emotions, even the uncomfortable ones. This might involve verbally describing your feelings or even using body language. Through this process, your therapist will help you validate and accept your emotions as you experience them. After all emotions are a natural part of the human experience!
Unveiling the Core: As you express your emotions, deeper themes and beliefs might emerge. For example, a fear of public speaking could stem from a core painful past experiences of “feeling not good enough.” Identifying and being able to express these core pain verbally is crucial for lasting change.
Shifting the Narrative: With newfound awareness of your core pain, you can begin to challenge and rewrite the stories you tell yourself. Your therapist will guide you in developing more empowering and self-affirming narratives that better reflect your true worth and capabilities.
Building Emotional Agility: EFT is more than just expressing and understanding your emotions; it equips you with tools to manage them more effectively. You’ll learn techniques like mindfulness and self-compassion to navigate difficult emotions in a healthy way.
It’s Important to Note: The specifics of an EFT session will vary depending on your unique situation and needs. Some sessions might focus on intense emotional processing, while others might involve practicing new coping skills. The key is that EFT is a collaborative and flexible approach tailored to your emotional journey.
Ready to embark on this adventure? Caper Spring has a team of very competent EFT therapists who are passionate about guiding you through your emotions. Contact us today and unlock the power of EFT to transform your emotional landscape!