Strengthening Relationships with Emotionally Focused Therapy
Healthy relationships are built on trust, communication, and emotional connection. But when couples feel stuck in cycles of conflict, disconnection, or misunderstanding, even the strongest bonds can begin to fray. Emotionally Focused Therapy For Couples (EFT-C) is a powerful, research-backed approach that helps partners identify negative patterns, strengthen emotional bonds, and create lasting change.
At Marissa Greenberg, LMFT, I use EFT-C to guide couples toward healthier, more fulfilling connections. This approach is especially helpful for couples who feel distant or caught in recurring conflicts but want to rebuild closeness and understanding.
What Is Emotionally Focused Therapy?
EFT is based on the science of attachment—the idea that humans thrive when they feel secure and connected to their loved ones. When that bond feels threatened, couples often fall into cycles of blame, criticism, or withdrawal. EFT helps partners recognize these patterns and replace them with new ways of reaching for each other.
The goal is not just to solve surface-level problems, but to heal the deeper emotions underneath. By creating stronger emotional security, couples often find that communication, intimacy, and trust improve naturally.
Challenges EFT-C Can Help Address
Couples often seek EFT-C when they are facing:
- Frequent arguments or recurring conflicts
- Emotional distance, loneliness, or disconnection
- Trust issues after betrayal or infidelity
- Difficulty expressing needs and emotions
- Parenting stress or changes in family dynamics
- Trauma that affects the relationship
- A desire to strengthen the relationship before marriage or major life transitions
EFT can also benefit individuals who want to better understand their emotional needs and improve how they connect with others.
What to Expect in EFT-C Sessions
In EFT-C, therapy is structured around creating safety and understanding between partners. In sessions, you can expect to:
- Identify the cycles of conflict that leave you feeling stuck
- Explore the emotions driving those patterns, such as fear, sadness, or longing
- Learn new ways to express needs and respond with empathy
- Build a stronger sense of trust and security in your relationship
- Create new interaction patterns that foster closeness and understanding
Couples often describe EFT as transformative because it addresses the root causes of conflict, not just the symptoms.
My Approach to EFT-C
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): to shift unhelpful thought patterns that affect interactions
- Mindfulness: to improve the ability to cope with intense and overwhelming emotions
- Eclectic therapy methods: for flexibility and personalization
This combination allows me to provide care that is both emotionally focused and practically effective.
Benefits of EFT-C
Couples who engage in EFT often experience:
- Greater emotional closeness and intimacy
- More effective communication and conflict resolution skills
- A stronger sense of security and trust
- Renewed passion and connection in the relationship
- Reduced cycles of blame, criticism, or withdrawal
- Long-term improvements that continue outside of therapy
- A deeper understanding of their Attachment Styles and emotional needs