In this first episode of ‪THE HEART AND SOUL OF COUPLES THERAPY we begin exploring the topics that Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) founder Sue Johnson would want us to remember. Here we go in-depth into this topic: ATTACHMENT DISTRESS IS REAL. We unpack this important topic, explaining two key ideas: this DISTRESS is understandable and predictable, AND that it can be healed. 

Dr Sue Johnson, the founder and creator of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) sadly passed away this past April. Sue touched the hearts and souls of ten of millions of people on this planet. She was brilliant and kind and funny -- and we miss her terribly!

In this episode of "The Heart & Soul of Couples Therapy" Jim Thomas and Ed Peterson dive into the world of neuroscience and reflect on the role of science and the scientific method in the development and practice of of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT).

EFT is an empirically studied and proven modality that brings people together and promotes healthy bonding and healing. This episode explains why science is such a big part of EFT

In this episode, Jim and Ed dive into the experiential world of couples therapy with a special focus on the role of enactments in the process of successful therapy. 

The term enactment is used by Dr. Sue Johnson to describe a part of EFT therapy when a therapist orchestrates a conversation between partners. Jim and Ed will address some of these basic enactment questions: From the attachment lens, what is an enactment? Why are they important? How does the therapist know what to enact? How do you know how much or how little to enact? What needs to happen in the session to prepare for the enactment? How do you make enactments succinct and powerful? Once partners have spoken to each other, how do you put the experience in the cycle? How do you use enactments to promote vulnerability?

Sue Johnson was a maverick and a rebel when she began teaching the world that emotions were the most important aspect of a couple's relationship. By watching thousands of hours of couples therapy sessions, Sue uncovered the secret sauce for helping couples to heal and to grow their bond. She taught us that if couples can experience their emotions together, in a de-escalated setting, with new types of conversations, that breakthrough bonding events can happen - events that move couples from reactive and escalated states toward true emotional bonding and healing.

In this first episode of ‪@heartandsoulofcouplestherapy‬ we begin exploring some of the things EFT founder Sue Johnson would want us to remember. Here we go in-depth with Jim Thomas about the idea that attachment distress is a real thing, and happens for good reasons.