The “Tango” of Love
Understanding Emotionally Focused Therapy
In this blog post, our team’s couple therapist, Natalie Bergman, explains a core concept in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy: the “tango” of love.
Meet the author
Natalie Bergman, MA, RPsych
COUPLES THERAPIST
Meet the editor
Ana Hoepfner, BEc
COMMUNICATIONS
Emotionally Focused Therapy is all about creating strong, secure, loving bonds.
In Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), therapists guide couples through the “Tango Moves” intervention to build and strengthen emotional bonds.
Here’s a quick look at these moves:
Recognize the dance
Identify negative interaction patterns and help couples see their roles in these patterns.
Find the emotion
Encourage partners to explore their underlying emotions and validate and reflect these feelings.
Expand Emotional Responses
Guide partners to express deeper emotions and foster a safe space for vulnerability.
Restructure Interactions
Create new, positive ways of interacting and encourage responsive and supportive behaviours.
Learn more about Emotionally Focused Therapy
Grounded in attachment science, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is a research-based framework for understanding human emotions and relationships. EFT was primarily developed by Dr. Sue Johnson, O.C.
This short-term, structured approach to couples therapy has demonstrated its effectiveness in over 35 years of peer-reviewed clinical research.
References
Johnson, S. M. (2004). The practice of emotionally-focused couple therapy: Creating connection. New York: Brunner-Routledge.
