Emotionally focused couples therapy: Status and challenges

This article presents the basis for, and the research on, emotionally focus ed couples therapy (EFT), now recognized as one of the most researched and most effective approaches to changing distressed marital relationships. Dra wing on attachment theory and the research on interactional patterns in dis tressed relationships, we describe the theoretical context of EFT. We then outline the nature of the clinical interventions used in EFT and the steps hypothesized to be crucial to couple change. The central role of accessing and working with emotional issues in the relationship context is highlighte d. Following this presentation, we review both the outcome and process rese arch on EFT and present meta-analytic data from randomized clinical trials to substantiate the clinical impact of EFT on couple adjustment. Finally, t he empirical and clinical challenges facing EFT are summarized.