Find your voice : through emotional focused therapy and attachment theory

Abstract

This final paper is part of the requirements for completion of a Master’s Degree in Social Work. This experiential final paper is based on a clinical field practicum focused upon Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) with couples. This document presents the practicum student’s research into EFT and an exploration of the theoretical basis for EFT. Within the context of the requirements for graduate studies, investigation into the theory, ideology and challenges of this clinical approach was carried out in a private practice clinical environment. The primary goals of this field practicum were to gain knowledge of the process of EFT, and to learn the skills and challenges of this therapeutic process under supervision of an EFT clinician. A comprehensive investigation into Attachment Theory and its application to EFT was initiated. The field practicum provided a supervised environment to study Attachment Theory, EFT and its processes within the context of the practicum student’s personal and professional ideology. Clinical challenges; including student-client, student-supervisor and the student’s introspective relationships; are discussed within the framework of EFT. The challenge of Emotionally Focused Therapy for the clinician is the ability to develop a secure therapeutic relationship that provides the appropriate environment for clients to voice their vulnerabilities in order to allow healthy change to occur. The clinician is therefore responsible to insure that any of their own emotional triggers are addressed in order for the therapeutic relationship to be at its optimal functioning. Understanding Attachment Theory and the potential our own history has to influence or impact a therapeutic relationship is paramount in working with EFT.