Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy with Trauma Survivors: Strengthening Attachment Bonds

by Sue Johnson

This book provides a theoretical framework and a practical model of intervention for distressed couples whose relationships are affected by the echoes of trauma. Combining attachment theory, trauma research, and emotionally focused therapeutic techniques, Susan M. Johnson guides the clinician in modifying the interactional patterns that maintain traumatic stress and fostering positive, healing relationships among survivors and their partners. In-depth case material brings to life the process of assessment and treatment with couples coping with the impact of different kinds of trauma, including childhood abuse, serious illness, and combat experiences. The concluding chapter features valuable advice on therapist self-care.

Genres: Psychology, Counselling, Relationships, Nonfiction, Theory, Mental Health, Professional Development

228 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Dr. Sue Johnson is a leading innovator in the fields of couple therapy and adult attachment; she is the primary developer of Emotionally Focused Couple and Family Therapy (EFT). Sue’s received numerous awards acknowledging her development of EFT, including the American Psychological Association’s “Family Psychologist of the Year'' and the Order of Canada, both in 2016.

Her best-selling book Hold Me Tight (2008) - with 1 million copies sold as of 2021 - has taught countless couples how to enhance and repair their relationships and has since been developed into a relationship enhancement program called Hold Me Tight Online.

As the founding director of the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT), Sue trains counselors in EFT worldwide and provides guidance to 80 affiliated centers. You can find out more about Sue and her work at drsuejohnson.com.

Reviews

[Chava]

living with trauma is hard no matter what. However, living with trauma and having a healthy relationship, can be double as hard. Often trauma was perpetrated by another person who was supposed to be trustworthy. Now there is another person who you are supposed to trust, but how can you when trustworthy people hurt you? This book is a great book when working with couples where there is significant trauma. It explains adult attachment and the impact on relationships.

[Amy Morgan]

Amazing book on doing couples therapy with trauma survivors. Very helpful perspective on how one of the most healing interventions for trauma is fostering a secure relationship—and why not help the traumatized person establish a secure relationship with the person who has the best chance of being with them for the long term, their spouse?

Great examples of couple/therapist dialogue, good exploration of the EFT model, though it would probably be helpful to know the EFT model coming into this book.

[Crystal O'Gorman]

Super informative about how the trauma dragon breathes fire on couple's negative cycle of interaction. It also helped me understand secondary trauma and how attachment injuries can be seen as little traumas within the relationship.

[Samantha Heuwagen]

A great look at trauma and working with couples with an attachment based approach.

[Shellie Rozic]

Very helpful exploring the EFT model through a trauma lens.

[Kimberly Winters]

This book has inspired me to consider a future therapeutic focus of applying EFT to couples with trauma. Great (basic) overview of counseling theory behind trauma therapy, attachment and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for couples. Easy to understand beginners guide for using the combined wisdom in all three theories to help couples recover from and/or build resilience to trauma.

[John]

This book adds little to the present litterature on the subject of traum and is written in a boring, academic, removed style. You can get much better informaion about trauma in other works and as for EFT, Dr. Johnson's first book is a gem and just read and reread that.

[Carly]

A lot of the concepts in this book wrre super valuable they style was repetitive and sluggish. I'm glad I finished it but it definitely took a concious choice to do so. Also, this is not a lay person book.

[Miguel Núñez]

Muy buena información