Emotion-Focused Therapy
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Making space for your emotions, instead of getting stuck in the spiral of them
Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) is an approach that focuses on strengthening how we are able to be with and hold space to feel our emotions, instead of trying to remove, “fix” or explain them away, EFT supports you to listen to the meaning and message behind your emotions. It is a gentle but powerful approach that creates a safe space to feel, express, and understand your emotional experience, so you can make sense of your reactions, connect with your deeper needs, and respond with more clarity and compassion.
What Emotion-Focused Therapy
might look like
In Emotion-Focused Therapy, we slow down and create space to feel our emotions in a safe and supported way.
We explore how your emotions function in your body and your relationships. Emotions carry important information; they show us what matters, where we’ve been hurt, and what we long for. But if your emotions haven’t been welcomed or understood in the past, they can feel confusing or overwhelming now.
Here’s how we approach it in session:
Primary Emotions
What you feel deep down
These are the core emotions beneath your reactions such as, sadness, fear, grief, joy, shame.
In therapy, we explore these feelings gently, without rushing or avoiding and learn to recognise and feel these emotions safely. Sometimes we don't have the words to describe how we feel. This process can explore creative emotional expression techniques.
Secondary Emotions
The protective layers
Sometimes we feel angry, shut down or numb, because a part of us is protecting something underneath. These emotions often mask the primary ones and can keep us stuck in loops. We’ll notice how these show up and bring curiosity to begin exploring what they might be protecting, covering or defending.
Emotional Expression
Giving your feelings a voice
We use creative and somatic techniques like body awareness, reflective dialogue, imagery, movement and expressive language to help emotions move and be felt. In therapy, we bring awareness to what we are feeling, and process those feelings by creating a safe space for them to be felt and expressed.
Who Might Find Emotion-Focused
Therapy Helpful
EFT may be supportive if you...
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You often feel overwhelmed by emotions like sadness, anxiety, or shame — or disconnected, unsure of what you're really feeling inside.
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You struggle to express your emotions clearly, or feel like your feelings are “too much,” or difficult to explain.
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You tend to stay in your head, in spirals of overthinking instead of feeling your emotions.
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You grew up in an environment where emotions were dismissed, minimised, or not talked about, and now you find it hard to know what you need or how to ask for support.
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You’re longing for a way to connect with your emotions without feeling like you'll spiral, to feel with more clarity, safety, and confidence.
Emotions are meant to be felt.
The intention of Emotion-Focused Therapy
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EFT can support you to:
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Feel more emotionally grounded and less reactive
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Develop trust in your emotional signals instead of fearing or avoiding them
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Communicate your feelings more clearly in relationships
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Process unresolved emotional pain (like grief, anger, or shame)
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Make decisions that reflect your true needs and values
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Emotions are not problems to be solved. They are messengers and by listening to them you begin to reconnect with yourself in a deeper and more honest way. EFT supports you to meet your feelings with curiosity, to become more emotionally aware and resilient.