Attachment Theory in Practice: Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) with Individuals, Couples, and Families

by Susan M. Johnson

Drawing on cutting-edge research on adult attachment--and providing an innovative roadmap for clinical practice--Susan M. Johnson argues that psychotherapy is most effective when it focuses on the healing power of emotional connection. The primary developer of emotionally focused therapy (EFT) for couples, Johnson now extends her attachment-based approach to individuals and families. The volume shows how EFT aligns perfectly with attachment theory as it provides proven techniques for treating anxiety, depression, and relationship problems. Each modality (individual, couple, and family therapy) is covered in paired chapters that respectively introduce key concepts and present an in-depth case example. Special features include instructive end-of-chapter exercises and reflection questions.
 

Genres: Psychology, Relationships, Nonfiction, Counselling, Self Help, Mental Health, Social Work

278 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2019

Reviews

[PinkAmy loves books, cats and naps · Rating 2 out of 5]

Before retirement, I was a child psychologist who used Attachment Theory as part of my theoretical orientation. I strongly believe attachment is the foundation of basic personality, how we develop socially and of all relationships.

Susan M Johnson takes attachment theory from a developmental perspective to an ongoing, ever changing part of individuals and their relationships, expanding Bowlby’s theories which makes sense, though not to the extent Johnson theorizes. She combines Attachment Theory with Emotionally Focused Therapy (EMF) to help clients move forward in their lives.

I appreciated how she modifies the “empty chair” for clients to have reparative conversations, to an extent. Johnson’s focus on blaming others, placing others as victimizers is where I strongly disagree. I utilized Kohut’s Self Psychology in helping clients understand how they process experience within the parameters of every individual having flaws and two well-meaning people can have a disconnect without anyone being all right or all wrong. For example a parent might think she is being supportive by pointing out ways her child can improve but that child interprets those words as being told he wasn’t good enough. That the child may have felt victimized does not necessarily make the parent an abuser but a parent who didn’t have the skills to express love and support in a manner helpful to the child, who, as a result of being young, couldn’t express this to his parent. Johnson’s empty chair use of her client telling parents (siblings, spouse friends) they are wrong and bad and encouraging clients to use phrases like, “You were a bad spouse. You failed me.” You vs I statements don’t help the client develop language conducive to communicating in a way that allows the other person to react in a non-defensive manner. Johnson could still explore the client’s feelings of the parent as a bad person having failed him while coaching ways to communicate those feelings in a way they’ll both be heard.
The other reason for my low review is the speed reading rate at which the narrator read. With scientific information, people need a few seconds to hear and digest.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The more we understand the science of attachment, the more we as helping professionals can target our interventions for treating clients with symptoms that more often that not arise from feeling disconnected from others and self. Sue Johnson's latest book offers a good overview of attachment science as well as a map for providing attachment oriented interventions with individuals, couples, and families. This book should be on the shelf of every helping professional!

[Jim Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a real game-changer for the field of psychotherapy. Sue Johnson, leading couples therapist and researcher, brings her attention and insights to bear through the application of attachment theory to many of the problems therapists encounter in their work with clients. Through this unifying theory of both intrasubjective experience and interpersonal relationships, Dr. Johnson calls on us to look at presenting problems through an attachment lens. Furthermore, she demonstrates how the evidence-based, heavily researched couples therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, applies to individuals and families. Ground breaking, eye opening, promising...

[Lisa]

If you want THE book on attachment and EFT this is it. From the thorough overview of attachment theory to the infinitely practical chapters that show how to implement the EFT model with individuals, couples, and families. And if you read nothing else, read chapter 10 which beautifully articulates our societal need for human connection and what we stand to lose as a society if we do not take this need seriously.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty dense read, but if you want to know about this experiential therapy, this is the book. Great case examples and clear principles for practitioners.

[Jennifer Harris · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is probably a book meant more for counselors, therapists, etc. and not the common person. There were some really great points at the beginning, but the rest was hard to follow and keep reading.

[Kirstin Franklin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An artful, accessible, and profoundly helpful book on the use of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), which is a highly effective approach based on attachment theory. I know that I will return to this book again and again in my career and my use of EFT with my clients - individuals, couples, and families.

[Stooce]

DNF - was mostly reading this for work. Took some good techniques and info for psycho education out of it. Skipped the bit on family therapy since i dont do it. Generally very dense, research and academic writing throughout, and heavy on arguing for attachment based therapy. Probably not for everyone!

[Lindsey R.B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little too dense at times but overall absolutely brilliant argument for attachment science and emotion as the most effective basis for psychotherapy. An attachment clinician’s textbook. Only took me 3.5 years to finish 🫠

[Abigail Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this was dense. I was on a bit of a time crunch because I borrowed it from the library. I loved the case examples and how the EFT tango was broken down and then repeated over and over and over. That being said, I feel like I could read this book 5 more times and learn something new each time. I will definitely be buying to add to my therapy book shelf.

[Mary Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

FINALLY FINISHED!!!! This book took me forever but I learned a ton about EFT.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Attachment Theory in Practice does a brilliant job of describing and demonstrating the principles of EFT. With research and actual session transcripts, Sue Johnson illustrates they what and why of EFT therapy for couples, families, and individuals.

[Azhari Tay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book thoroughly even though it had it's negatives. The book went into detail about attachment theory and how it affects individuals: different patterns in a relationship can be explained through attachment styles/their unresolved fears. The transcript of sessions also allowed me to visualise how it is put into practice and gave me some general outlines as to how to apply this into sessions. I also appreciate that the book was supported by scientific evidence which made reading it more interesting. However, the later chapters seemed to imply that eft was superior than other forms of therapy such as cbt but the book did not cover any negatives of eft which was my only gripe. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed the book.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5

I have been wanting to learn more about EFT for a while and was not disappointed. Johnson provides a simple framework that makes a lot of sense based on my clinical experience. I can see how this approach would be effective as it has been what I have experientially finding true in a lot of ways I also appreciated her honesty in comparing EFT to other models, even at one point saying another model has more research behind it at this point. She is brilliant, humble, and yet practical.

It was more research heavy than I preferred as a practitioner, as I was hoping for a deeper dive in application. It also is a bit too permissive in regards to unhealthy behaviors for my taste as well.

On the whole, my interest in EFT is ever growing and I'm excited to learn more about it.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"From the cradle to the grave, human beings are hardwired to seek not just social contact, but also physical and emotional proximity to special others who are deemed irreplaceable. The longing for a 'felt sense' of connection to key others is primary in terms of the hierarchy of human goals and needs." This was a valuable clinical book that offered actual transcripts of sessions of Emotionally-Focused Therapy. I think it has already improved my practice and helped me to recognize the value of emotional experiencing while in session for lasting changes.

[Holly Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you remember one thing from this book :

“Are you there for me?” A.R.E. ( the shaping of Emotional accessibility, Responsiveness, and Engagement ) Basically, asking will you be there for me when I need you ?

It hones in that from the cradle to the grave, human beings are hardwired to seek not just social contact, but also physical and emotional proximity to special others who are deemed irreplaceable.

The book emphasizes the sacredness of connection—of relationships as the primary source of meaning and growth in human life.

Evidence tells us that the more securely attached we are, the more tolerant of differences, the more empathic and altruistic we can be and this book basically walks though ways to get there. I would say it is a heavy read if no prior psychology experience as it's definitely geared mostly towards therapists more than the lay person, but I was able to finish it ( and enjoyed the experience as it felt like walking through a therapists head) . The author walks through ways to detangle anxious/insecure attachments " or detangle them"

In a nut shell , people want to be securely attached ! Those who are securely attached are comfortable with closeness and their need for others. Their primary attachment strategy is then to acknowledge their attachment needs and congruently reach out (e.g., matching verbal and nonverbal signals into a clear whole) in a bid for an attachment figure to make or maintain contact. When this figure responds, this response is then trusted and taken in, calming the nervous system of the one who reached out. By providing one with such an effective strategy, attachment security appears to buffer stress and potentiate positive coping throughout life.

Some of this book went over my head, it also made me appreciate how much therapists train and what is going on behind the scenes with constant redirection and validation and moulding to shape habitual repeat actions .

[Robert Bogue]

I came to read Attachment Theory in Practice: Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) with Individuals, Couples, and Families on the recommendation of Drs. John and Julie Gottman. (See The Science of Trust, The Relationship Cure, and Eight Dates for their work.) I had reached out to them to connect John’s early work with attachment theory and the changes that were being seen, where couples with one securely attached person caused both partners to trend towards security. John suggested that Sue Johnson (who refers to the Gottmans’ work in her writings) would be best positioned to know the answer.

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[Nan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ebook. I didn’t for some reason realize this was for clinicians. I get some of what is going on but didn’t learn all that much about attachment styles. Sort of how to fix them but now do you really ID them? May be that is in her other books? Maybe my tried brain just couldn’t comprehend how she wrote about attachment styles. It’s a useful book and I hope to find a few of the books are mentioned/wrote.

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Clearly, human misery is not waning; in fact, it’s being actively created by the way we structure our societies…Attachment science is a blueprint, not just for the optimal development of psychotherapy, but also for a better, more essentially, human society.”

Lots of great nuggets in this book and really sold me on EFT. However, it took me almost a year to get through as it often read like a text book. Highly recommend paying for an EFT training in person over this book.

[Rachel Croce · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so well written - a nice mixture of clinical and examples. I really appreciated the resources in the appendix. And also, I cried. I did. I did cried when Josh and his dad accessed that care and love. The fuckin primary reason I am so obsessed with attachment theories! 🥹 Sue Johnson is a goddess of evoking emotions.🫶🏻 #goals

[Billie Pritchett]

A fascinating book though too highfalutin to call this a theory. Attachment theory is basically a set of insights about the centrality of relationships to our lives and how secure we feel in them. This book deserves a more careful read than I gave it, frankly, my excuse that its demos of therapy sessions grew exhausting.

[Bassam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Attachment Theory in Practice: Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) with Individuals, Couples, and Families
Attachment Theory in Practice: Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) with Individuals, Couples, and Families
Sue Johnson
pdf

[Karri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource for those seeking to practice therapy from an attachment perspective.

[Rinie Altena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ik onderschrijf alleen maar alle reviews met 5 sterren.

[Joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you work in the field of counseling in any capacity, then this is an excellent resource. Sue is my hero, and I will certainly be reading this and referring to it again and again.

[Annie]

dnf @ 17%

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't get to read all of it, as it was just for a school paper. But super good and I hope to reread and finish it all later. I also hope to train in this modality as it really resonated with me.

[Kelsey Fanelli]

Recommended on almost 30 podcast

[Carol Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great training resource

This book is very helpful and practical. I appreciate the author's time and dedication to ensuring they created a resource that flows well with the model.

[Jillybb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check the website https://iceeft.com/ for updates to the model outlined in this book. Simple and excellent.