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EFT research

Helping individuals, couples and families in California.

Emotionally Focused Therapy is a brief psychological therapy for distressed individuals, couples, and families. This therapy has been developed during the last 35 years by Dr. Sue Johnson and her colleagues. The efficacy of the therapy has been proven in 19 different studies, with 75% of the participants exhibiting a marked reduction in relationship distress.
The most impressive part of the studies, the follow-up, showed that the couple’s relationship continued to improve 6-12 months after the therapy and showed no signs of regression.
These types of outcomes are not common in psychological relationship distress interventions. These studies unequivocally show why we become stressed in our relationships and how to reduce this stress and achieve an emotionally safe and secure connection with the one you love and care for.

Outcome Research

  1. Wiebe, S.A., & Johnson, S.M. (2016) “Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy Research in the Last Decade.” Family Process (Research summary – in press.)
  2. Burgess-Moser, M., Johnson, S. M., Dalgleish, T., Lafontaine, M., Wiebe, S., & Tasca, G. (2015). “Changes in relationship-specific attachment in Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy.” Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 42(2), 231-245.
  3. Elliott, C., Wiebe, S. A., Johnson, S. M. & Tasca, G. A. (2015). “Attachment & sexual satisfaction in emotionally focused therapy for couples.” ( Manuscript in preparation.)
  4. Dalgleish, T.L., Johnson, S.M., Burgess Moser, M., Lafontaine, M. F., Wiebe, S.A. & Tasca, G.A. (2015). “Predicting change in marital satisfaction throughout Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy. “Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 41(3), 276-291.
  5. Soleimani, A.A., Najafi, M., Ahmadi, Kh., Javidi, N., Hoseini Kamkar, E., & Mahboubi, M. (2015). “The effectiveness of emotionally focused couples therapy on sexual satisfaction and marital adjustment of infertile couples with marital conflicts.” International Journal of Fertility and Sterility, 9(3), 393-402.
  6. Wiebe, S., Johnson, S. M., Burgess-Moser, M., Dalgleish, T., Lafontaine, M., & Tasca, G. (2014) “Two-year follow-up outcomes in Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy.” (Manuscript in review.)
  7. Mehr, S.E., Bahrami, F., Karami, B., Mehr, Y.E., Hedayati, A.M., Ahmadi, S. & Rozeyan, A. (2014) “Studying the effect of emotion focused therapy on couples’ attachment styles.” MAGNT Research Report, Vol.2(5), 595-602.
  8. Ahmadi, F.S., Zarei, E. & Fallahchai, S.R. (2014). “The Effectiveness of Emotionally-Focused Couple Therapy in Resolution of Marital Conflicts between the Couples Who Visited the Consultation Centers.” Journal of Education and Management Studies, 4(1), 118-123.
  9. Soltani, M., Shairi, M.R., Roshan, R., & Rahimi, C. (2014). “The Impact of Emotionally Focused Therapy on Emotional Distress in Infertile Couples.” International Journal of Fertility and Sterility, 7(4):337-344.
  10. Johnson, S.M., Burgess Moser, M., Beckes, L., Smith, A., Dalgleish, T., Halchuk, R., Hasselmo, K., Greenman, P.S., Merali, Z. & Coan, J.A. (2013). “Soothing the threatened brain: Leveraging contact comfort with Emotionally Focused Therapy.” PLOS ONE, 8(11): e79314.
  11. Dalton, J., Greeman, P., Classen, C., & Johnson, S. M. (2013). “Nurturing Connections in the Aftermath of Childhood Trauma: A randomized controlled trial of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFT) for Female Survivors of Childhood Abuse.” Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice, Vol.2(3), 209-221.
  12. McLean, L.M., Walton, T., Rodin, G., Esplen, M.J., & Jones, J.M. (2013). “A couple-based intervention for patients and caregivers facing end-stage cancer: outcomes of a randomized controlled trial.” Psycho-Oncology, 22(1), 28-38. Rev. 23 – June 2016 Page 3 of 8
  13. Soltani, M., Molazadeh, J., Mahmoodi, M., & Hosseini, S. (2013). “A Study on the effectiveness of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy on Intimacy of Couples.” Social and Behavioral Sciences, Vol.82, 461-465.
  14. Denton, W.H., Wittenborn, A.K., & Golden, R.N. (2012). “Augmenting antidepressant medication treatment of depressed women with emotionally focused therapy for couples: A randomized pilot study.” Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, Vol.38, Supplement s1, 23-38.
  15. Halchuk, R., Makinen, J. & Johnson, S. M. (2010). “Resolving Attachment Injuries in Couples using Emotionally Focused Therapy: A 3 year follow-up.” Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy, 9, 31-47.
  16. Honarparvaran, N., Tabrizy, M., & Navabinejad, Sh. (2010). “The efficacy of emotionally focused couple therapy (EFT-C) training with regard to reducing sexual dissatisfaction among couples.” European Journal of Scientific Research, 43(4), 538-545.

Process & Predictors Research

  1. Dalgleish, T.L., Johnson, S. M., Burgess Moser, M., Wiebe, S.A. & Tasca, G.A. (2015). “Predicting Key Change Events in Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy.” Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 41(3), 260-275.
  2. Sandberg, J.G., Brown, A.P., Schade, L.C., Novak, J.R., Denton, W.H. & Holt-Lundstad, J. (2015). “Measuring Fidelity in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT): A Pilot Test of the EFT Therapist Fidelity Scale.” The American Journal of Family Therapy, 43(3), 251-268.
  3. Schade, L.C., Sandberg, J.G., Bradford, A., Harper, J.M., Holt-Lunstad, J. & Miller, R.B. (2015) “A Longitudinal View of the Association Between Therapist Warmth and Couples’ In-Session Process: An Observational Pilot Study of Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy.” Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 41(3), 292-307.

Outcome Research

  1. MacIntosh, H.B. & Johnson, S. (2008). “Emotionally focused therapy for couples and childhood sexual abuse survivors.” Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 34(3), 298-315.
  2. Naaman, S., Johnson, S.M., & Radwan, K. (2008). “Evaluation of the clinical efficacy of emotionally focused therapy on psychological adjustment of couples facing early breast cancer.” (Doctoral Dissertation). School of Clinical Psychology, University of Ottawa, Canada.
  3. Couture-Lalande, M.-E., Greenman, P.S., Naaman, S. & Johnson, S.M. (2007) “La thérapie de couple axée sur l’émotion (EFT) pour traiter les couples dont la femme a le cancer du sein: Une étude exploratoire / Emotionally focused therapy (EFT) for couples with a female partner who suffers from breast cancer: an exploratory study.” Psycho-Oncology, 1(4), 257–264. (Journal of the Psychological, Social and Behavioral Dimensions of Cancer).
  4. Makinen, J. A. & Johnson, S. (2006). “Resolving Attachment Injuries in Couples using EFT: Steps Toward Forgiveness and  Reconciliation.” Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 74(6), 1055-1064.
  5. Dessaulles, A., Johnson, S. M. & Denton, W. (2003). “Emotion Focused Therapy for Couples in the Treatment of Depression: A Pilot Study.” American Journal of Family Therapy, 31(5), 345-353.
  6. Clothier, P., Manion, I., Gordon-Walker, J. & Johnson, S. M. (2002). “Emotionally Focused Interventions for Couples with Chronically Ill Children: A two year follow-up.” Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 28(4), 391-398.
  7. Denton, W., Burleson, B., Clark, T., Rodriguez, C. & Hobbs, B. (2000). “A Randomized Trial of Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples in a Training Clinic.” Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 26(1), 65-78.
  8. Johnson, S., Hunsley, J., Greenberg, L. & Schindler, D. (1999). “Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy: Status & challenges (A meta-analysis).” Journal of Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 6(1), 67-79. NOTE: Also listed under Meta-Analyses
  9. Johnson, S., Maddeaux, C. & Blouin, J. (1998). “Emotionally Focused Family Therapy for Bulimia: Changing Attachment Patterns.” Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice, 35(2), 238-247. Rev. 23 – June 2016 Page 4 of 8
  10. Gordon-Walker, J., Johnson, S., Manion, I. & Cloutier, P. (1996). “Emotionally Focused Marital Intervention for Couples with Chronically Ill Children.” Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64(5), 1029-1036.
  11. McPhee, D., Johnson, S.M. & van der Veer, M.C. (1995). “Low sexual desire in women: The effects of marital therapy.” Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 21(3), 159-182.
  12. Dandeneau, M. & Johnson, S. (1994). “Facilitating Intimacy: Interventions and Effects.” Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 20(1), 17-33.
  13. Goldman, A. & Greenberg, L. (1992). “Comparison of Integrated Systemic and Emotionally Focused Approaches to Couples Therapy.” Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 60(6), 962-969.
  14. James, P. (1991). “Effects of a Communication Training Component Added to an Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy.” Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 17(3), 263-275.
  15. Johnson, S. & Greenberg, L. (1985). “Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy: An Outcome Study.” Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 11(3), 313-317.
  16. Johnson, S. & Greenberg, L. (1985). “The Differential Effects of Experiential and Problem Solving Interventions in Resolving Marital Conflict.” Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology, 53, 175-184. (EFT, CBT and controls tested.)

Process & Predictors Research

  1. McRae, T.R., Dalgleish, T.L., Johnson, S.M., Burgess-Moser, M., & Killian, K.D. (2014). “Emotion Regulation and Key Change Events in Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy.” Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 13(1), 1-24.
  2. Wiebe, S., Johnson, S. M., Burgess-Moser, M., Dalgleish, T., Lafontaine, M., & Tasca, G. (2014) “Predictors of follow-up outcomes in Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy.” (Manuscript in review.)
  3. Greenman, P., & Johnson, S. (2013). “Process Research on EFT for Couples: Linking Theory to Practice.” Family Process, Special Issue on Couple Therapy, 52(1), 46-61.