Working with the Echoes of Trauma in Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFCT)

Emotionally Focused Therapy for couples and families (EFT, Dr. Susan Johnson) is an empirically validated treatment approach that meets the gold standard set out by bodies such as the American Psychological Association (APA) and has been shown to be effective in assisting couples in both addressing trauma, and improving their relationship functioning. In this workshop, and with an emphasis on video/in-session demonstrations as well as more traditional lecture format, participants will gain an understanding of some of the key theoretical underpinnings of the EFT model, as well as practitioner-relevant insight into the interventions that are used to transform couples both personally and relationally, quietening the echoes of trauma, and increasing resilience to future stress and/or trauma.

Working to help the trauma survivor reach open-heartedly and the partner respond vulnerably is the focus of this one-day training in the application of EFT with trauma survivor couples. This training emphasizes three key features in working with emotional echoes of trauma.  Specifically, clinical assessment and identification of various personal and relationship factors that impact clinical decision-making, key EFT interventions central to working with emotion intrapsychically and interpersonally, and the how of pacing intrapsychic and interpersonal work.  Through teaching, video presentation, and experiential learning, participants will further develop their skills in using voice, reflection, and deepening interventions to help partners make contact with their inner experience, stay in contact in order to assemble and distill, and then share vulnerabilities with each other in order to break the familiar yet dreaded feeling of emotional isolation, a common result of enduring trauma.

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

1.  Trace the impact of trauma (both personally and relationally) from an attachment perspective

2.  Develop assessment skills in working with trauma survivor couples (with attention to both content and process considerations)

3.  Summarize the three stages of EFT, as well as the special considerations associated with working with trauma in EFT couple therapy across the three stages

4.  Summarize the five key moves in the EFT Tango, observe demonstrations and deepen their skills in working with various elements of the Tango (e.g., practice affect assembly and the use of summary statements, and deepen their understanding of and reference to the experiencing scale) 

5.  Further understand and know how to use the Tango to facilitate corrective emotional experiences to help the trauma survivor shift from hypervigilance to engagement, and move toward stabilization in Stage One and secure attachment (revision of model of self and other) in Stage Two

6.  Observe demonstrations of how to work with shame when shame is a barrier to moving through the process of both Stages One and Two in EFT couple therapy

REFUND POLICY:

Refunds are available for up to 60 days after the date of payment minus a $100 administrative fee.  Refunds will not be issued after February 1st.  Refund requests should be emailed to:  info@efttennessee.com