Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is often used for couples dealing with attachment issues that are impacting their relationship. However, EFT has also been highly successful when it comes to individual use. 

Of course, it’s not the right method for everyone. However, for the right candidates, it can be extremely beneficial, and help you deal with any insecure attachments that might be negatively impacting your quality of life. 

So, is EFT right for you? 

Let’s look at how you can tell if you might benefit from individual EFT therapy. The more informed you are, the more confident you’ll be in your decision about whether to make an appointment. 

You Have Insecure Attachments

The easiest way to tell if EFT is right for you is if your attachment issues have caused problems in your relationships. EFT is largely based on attachment theory. If you grew up in a situation where your caregivers didn’t give you the attention and basic care you needed, you might struggle with attachment and insecurity as an adult. 

Some of the telltale signs of insecure attachment include: 

  • You avoid emotional intimacy
  • You fear being abandoned
  • It’s hard for you to trust others
  • You don’t like expressing emotions

If you want to develop a more secure attachment style, EFT can help you get to the root of your attachment issues so you can build the necessary skills to identify and change your behavioral patterns. 

silhouette of woman standing against dark pink sunset skyEmotional Regulation

As stated above, it’s often difficult for someone with an insecure attachment to express their emotions. You might even find that you don’t feel emotions the way you think you’re “supposed to”. 

Emotional regulation is another major part of EFT. As an individual, going through this type of therapy can help you get to the root cause of your attachment issues. You’ll also have to voice your emotions and your emotional needs. While it might be difficult, at first, it’s also necessary when it comes to modifying your interactions with people. 

You Want to Improve Your Communication Skills

Individual EFT doesn’t necessarily help you brush up on your communication skills. Rather, it will help you openly and honestly communicate your feelings and your needs. That’s a huge step if you’ve been used to bottling things up your entire adult life. 

When you start to communicate those needs and express yourself, your relationships will get stronger and become more secure. That goes well beyond romantic relationships. You can become closer to family members and friends, too. Over time, it will get easier to open up and express yourself, which can establish a greater sense of trust with the people in your life. 

Is EFT Right for You?

When people participate in EFT for couples, they have a goal of understanding themselves and their partner more. 

The goal of individual EFT isn’t much different. Establishing a greater understanding of who you are and why you feel a certain way should be your focus. Is it always easy? Of course not. Having to go back in time to talk about some of the negative aspects of childhood is never easy. However, getting to the root cause allows you to finally step out of the pit of insecure attachment. 

When you develop a greater understanding of yourself, you’ll experience more positive interactions with people, and you won’t struggle so much with insecure attachments that could end up pushing them away. 

If you’ve heard of Emotionally Focused Therapy but you’re still not sure whether it’s right for you, feel free to contact me. I’m happy to provide more information about what to expect and help you set up an appointment.