Emotionally Focused Therapy and

the New Era of Couples Therapy

By:
Dr. Susan Johnson Ed.D., C. Psyc.
Professor of Psychology, University of Ottawa
Research Professor, Alliant University, San Diego
Director of The Ottawa Couple & Family Institute and the
Center For Emotionally Focused Therapy
 “You’re my Guy!”

Taken from the Motion Picture:

The Hours
The Attachment Perspective offers
the therapist:
„ A map to the territory of adult love – to
primary emotions and needs.
„ A direction – set of goals – a focus for
therapy.
„ A language – a set of meanings that
“move” us.
„ A compass for the key relationship moves
and moments in distress, in
transformation, in co-morbidities.
 Attachment Theory tells us:
„ Attachment is a basic need-survival imperative – isolation is traumatic
„ Secure attachment offers a save haven
„ Secure attachment offers a secure base – effective dependency creates a
strong self – a safer world.
„ Secure connection is about accessibility and responsiveness
„ Disconnection creates Separation Distress – protest, seek/cling, depression,
despair, detachment.
„ Emotion responses are privileged. Emotional regulation is a core
attachment process.
„ There are two dimensions/styles of insecurity – anxiety, avoidance.
„ Models of self-and other come alive in attachment dramas – re trust for,
valuing of self and other.
„ There are key defining relational moves – moments, eg. Change events and
impasses.
„ Adult attachment is reciprocal, representational, sexual.
 An attachment bond…
Piglet sidled up to Pooh
from behind.
“Pooh,” he whispered.
“Yes, Piglet?”
“Nothing,” said Piglet,
taking Pooh’s paw.
“I just wanted to be
sure of you.”