Emotion Focused Therapy
“There can be no knowledge with emotion. We may be aware of truth, yet until we have felt its force, it is not ours” - Arnold Bennett
Emotion focused therapy is a journey to understand the meaning of your emotions (Greenberg, 2017). This understanding will provide you with the awareness, acceptance, and regulation of your emotions (Greenberg, 2017). The purpose of emotion focused therapy is to not only transform emotions as a corrective experience but also to utilize the information that emotional experiences have given to you (Greenberg, 2017). Fear is an emotion that searches for danger, Sadness informs us of loss and Anger informs us of violation (Elliott et al.,2007). The information learned from your emotions will work to strengthen the self, as emotions can be wiser than our intellect (Greenberg, 2017). Fundamental emotions such as anger, sadness, fear, and disgust are at the core of what orients us in our behaviour (Greenberg, 2017). Our emotional system provides us with the knowledge necessary for our survival by directing our behaviour (Elliott et al.,2007). It is important not to neglect our emotions by over prioritizing our cognitive understanding as emotions are our primary system of communication (Greenberg, 2017).
Emotional change is seen as the key to lasting positive cognitive and behavioural change (Greenberg, 2017). Emotion focused therapy will help you to better identify your life experiences by making sense of possible maladaptive emotional responses (Elliott et al.,2007). Emotions that overwhelm us or even control us as an automatic response, such as fight and flight, can lead us to do things that we may not understand and that we may even regret (Greenberg, 2017). Understanding the emotions that control our behaviour will create new meaning in our lives (Greenberg, 2017). The result should be the new skill of enhanced emotional intelligence as you navigate the world. Emotions are vital as they keep us connected to others, energized, and interested (therapist.com., 2024). Emotions are our guide to our most authentic self (therapist.com., 2024).
Emotional pain needs to be heard, felt and accepted (therapist.com., 2024). Past trauma can rob an individual of their emotional intelligence through a lack of awareness of their needs or by an avoidance of emotional experiences (therapist.com., 2024). Knowing what you feel informs you of what needs and what has not been met (therapist.com., 2024). Developing your emotional literacy helps you to function more effectively (Greenberg, 2017). Facing your emotions, especially the ones that you dread can make automatic emotional responses better understood and therefore better able to be controlled (Greenberg, 2017) It is important to find the right therapist for you at Vaughan Counselling and Psychotherapy. We offer a free service and trial session to help you find the right therapist for you. The right therapist will give you the encouragement you need and make you feel accepted.
References
Elliott, R. and Greenberg, L.S. (2007). The Essence of Process-Experiential/Emotion-Focused Therapy. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 61(3), pp.241–254. doi:https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.2007.61.3.241.
Greenberg, L.S. (2017). Emotion-Focused Therapy. American Psychological Association, [online] pp.3–11. doi:https://doi.org/10.1037/15971-001.
therapist.com. (2024). Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy. [online] Available at: https://therapist.com/for-therapists/therapists-guide-to-efit/#:~:text=EFIT%20offers%20therapists%20this%20map [Accessed 21 Aug. 2024].