DAY ONE

Introduction to Couple Distress, Attachment Theory, Process of EFT

1. Describe the nature and causes of marital distress from an attachment perspective.

2. Describe basic Attachment Theory and how it informs working with couples in EFT.

3. Describe the systemic elements of EFT.

4. Describe change factors involved in a couple moving from distress to recovery.

5. Describe the 3 stages of EFT.

6. Practice the basic empathy skills that are central to the therapeutic process in EFT.

DAY TWO

Assessment, Alliance Stage 1

1. Describe and practice assessment skills in EFT

2. Describe and practice how to create a therapeutic alliance using: empathic attunement, validation, acceptance, genuineness.

3. Describe and practice how to enter experience of partners to find out how each constructs his/her experience of their relationship.

4. Describe and practice how to track and frame the sequences of interaction that perpetuate couples' distress.

5. Describe the difference between primary and secondary emotions.

6. Describe and practice how to frame the negative cycle (e.g., pursue/withdraw) emphasizing attachment needs (e.g., closeness, connection, importance of the other, fear of loss).

DAY THREE

EFT Interventions and Change Events Stage 2

1. Describe systemic and experiential theories that underlie EFT interventions.

2. Describe and practice the basic EFT interventions for working with emotion, i.e. reflection, validation, evocative responding, empathic conjecture and heightening.

3. Describe and practice how to use RISSSC to access and heighten emotional experience.

4. Describe and practice how to facilitate interaction between partners by using enactments.

5. Explain how to put the interventions together to facilitate change events.

6. Describe the process of Withdrawer Engagement

7. Describe the process of Pursuer Softening.

8. Describe and practice the skills of accessing, exploring and deepening emotion.

DAY FOUR

Individual Therapy and Attachment Injuries

1. Describe and practice the skills of facilitating acceptance.

2. Describe how to choreograph change events using enactments.

3. Explain attachment injuries from an Attachment Theory perspective.

4. Explain the steps toward resolving attachment injuries, creating forgiveness.

5. Describe EFT skills as they apply to work with individuals

6. Describe EFT skills as they apply to work with families.

7. Describe the EFT approach to managing co-morbidities

8. Summarize ways to continue learning EFT and refining skills in this method of therapy.