The Emotionally Focused Therapy Podcast S1 Ep3: Stage One Overview: Navigating Conflict in Emotionally Focused Therapy
Jul 29, 2025
The hosts share humorous skiing tales before diving into the intricacies of Emotionally Focused Therapy. They dissect the conflict dynamics that disrupt couple connections and introduce the critical concept of de-escalation. Emotional triggers based on attachment styles are explored to enhance communication. The importance of creating a safe therapeutic environment for partners to express their feelings is emphasized. Ultimately, listeners gain insights into breaking negative cycles to strengthen emotional bonds and improve relationship dynamics.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Skiing Stories As Icebreakers
- Michael Barnett shared his first downhill skiing experience at 61 and called it "a taste of madness."
- Michael Preston told a story about his sister crashing into a tree on her first ski run.
Three Distinct Stage Goals
- Stage One, Two, and Three each have distinct therapeutic goals that shape interventions.
- Stage One focuses on how EFT conceptualizes the problem and achieving de-escalation as the gateway to deeper work.
Beyond Symptom Fixing
- Stage Two moves beyond symptom relief to address deeper attachment-driven issues that underlie conflict.
- Stage Three consolidates change by creating a cohesive narrative of the couple's therapeutic journey.