Training In EFT

EFT has been researched and developed by Dr. Sue Johnson and the International Centre of Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT). A variety of different training modules offer therapists opportunities to develop and refine their EFT skills and interventions. which if the therapist so wishes, can lead towards EFT certification with ICEEFT.

The information provided on this site relates specifically to training workshops taking place in Ireland. For a more extensive list of workshops available worldwide, please visit the ICEEFT website.

EFT trainings are provided by Certified EFT Supervisors and Trainers

EFT Therapist Training:

Below is an explanation of each training event. For up and coming training and events available in Ireland please visit our Events page.

One Day Introduction to EFT

Understand the phenomenon of marital / family distress in an attachment context.
Identify specific interventions to help couples / families reprocess negative affect and restructure negative interactions.
Create powerful change events in therapy that foster a more secure bond between partners / family members.
Deal with common impasses and difficult issues in marital / family therapy.

EFT Externship

Four Day Training (30 HOURS)

General Objectives of Externship Training

Participants will obtain a clear understanding of the basic experiential and systemic concepts of an “Emotionally Focused” approach to couples therapy.
Participants will be able to conceptualize couple distress and relationship repair based on theories of attachment and emotion.
Participants will develop skills in helping partners reprocess the emotional responses that maintain relational distress.
Participants will develop skills in helping partners shape new interaction patterns and bonding events.
Participants will develop skills to overcome therapeutic impasses with couples.

These objectives were formulated with the help of Dr. Jim Furrow.

An Externship includes observation of live therapy sessions, presentations of theory and clinical techniques, skills training exercises, and discussion of specific cases, clinical material and issues.

Who should attend?

The externship is recommended to all professionals who are or wish to counsel couples, including psychiatrists, psychologists, family physicians, social workers, psychiatric nurses, psychotherapists, counselors, pastors and clergy, as well as students training in these professions. Registrants will be required to declare their professional designation.

Participants learn to:

See marital distress from an attachment perspective, help partners reprocess the emotional responses that maintain marital distress, shape key new interaction and bonding events and overcome therapeutic impasses. Participants are strongly encouraged to read the 2004 book on EFT – Creating Connections before coming to the externship. Ideally participants will also have viewed the first training tape – Healing Broken Bonds.

Advanced Externship

There are currently no Advanced Externships being offered in Ireland. We encourage you towards Core Skills and/or to contact us with your questions.

Externship Events

Core Skills Training

(48 HOURS)

EFT Core Skills Training sessions are offered by Certified EFT Trainers in Ireland. Core skills training consists of small groups (approx. 12/15 people) learning the skills essential to the practice of EFT. Core Skills in Ireland consist of 4 modules, each module is 12 hours per 2 days. Participants are required to have completed an EFT externship and be willing to present their own work through audio/videotape presentation. Registrants will be required to declare their professional designation.

Core Skills Training Events

Clinical EFT Supervision / Consultation

Supervision in EFT/EFFT is offered by Certified EFT Supervisors and is available on an individual or group basis. Group supervision can also be accessed through Teleconferences or Core Skills Training. The key principles of EFT clinical supervision are:

A positive working alliance between the supervisor and supervisee is fostered – safety enhances learning. Modelling is available: the supervisor actively demonstrates EFT interventions (e.g., demonstrates attachment language and non-verbal behaviours of EFT).
Observation of therapy sessions occurs or transcripts are examined. Role plays with feedback give opportunity for rehearsal.
Feedback to supervisee is clear, focused, supportive and congruent with supervisee’s stage of learning.
Specific elements are pointed out for the supervisee to improve or work on.
Written theory and techniques of the EFT model are referred to and taught in relation to practice (e.g.: steps, stages, interventions, experiential and non-pathologizing approach).

These principles were formulated with the help of Lisa Palmer-Olsen and the work of Eugene Mead.

NOTE: On this website, the words “supervisor” and “supervision” are used expressly for the purpose of training in the EFT model and do not imply / constitute any ethical / legal responsibility for cases discussed. For all intents and purposes, a Certified EFT Supervisor is an EFT consultant. All therapists receiving such supervision / consultation are wholly responsible for the therapy they provide and they are also responsible for receiving appropriate supervision, as required, by their respective governing and/or licensing authorities. ICEEFT requires that every effort be make to protect confidentiality of the client. Any web based sharing of information or encryption of sessions must be done in accordance with the standards of the professional college of the supervisor. ICEEFT is not responsible for supervisor’s actions in this regard.

EFT Group Supervision:

The benefits of group supervision is the learning and support we gain from one another in an environment that is safe and collaborative. Each participant shares a case presentation, which is usually shared as an audio or video recordings. The groups are small and are often experiential, offering us the opportunity to explore EFT skills and interventions through role play, discussion and the therapist’s internal landscape with regards to the supervisory process and their clients.

Teleconference

(10 Hours)

Teleconferences involve a structured discussion of cases led by Certified EFT Trainers over the phone. Participants need to present one case for one half hour and provide a transcript of the session (6-8 pages) that is shared with all participants. Participating in a teleconference can be counted as group supervision hours in the EFT certification process.

EFT Community Meetings

As a community we find it of great benefit to come together about 4/5 times a year for a Saturday morning of connecting, sharing and learning from one another. The meetings are always enjoyed and it’s our way of networking, reuniting and supporting one another with our vision and care of one another. The meetings are open to those who have completed an EFT Externship.

Community Days Events

Specialised Training Days

Specialised Training days are offered occasionally in the context of deepening certain skills and topics related to EFT learning. Please see our events page for our next meeting.

ICEEFT Certification

A Certified EFT Therapist is one whose expertise in this model of therapy is recognized by the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT). The primary goals of certification are to promote excellence in the practice of EFT and EFFT (Emotionally Focused Family Therapy) and to ensure maintenance of these standards in both the supervision and training of this approach.

Certified EFT Therapist

Benefits of Certification:

A Certified EFT Therapist can be listed on the ICEEFT Directory, upon completion of requirements and maintaining ICEEFT membership.

Requirements for Certification:

An ICEEFT endorsed EFT Externship led by a Certified EFT Trainer: 28-30 hours over 4 days.
Core Skills Training led by a certified EFT Trainer, 48 hours over 2 four day workshops. If a five is offered, the fifth is an optional 2-day workshop. Individual supervision by a Certified EFT Supervisor, Trainer or approved Supervisor Candidate, a minimum of 8 hours. (Individual supervision may be with two people) Supervision may be face to face or long distance. ICEEFT requires that every effort be made to protect confidentiality of the client. Any web based sharing of information or encryption of sessions must be done in accordance with the standard of the professional college of the supervisor. ICEEFT is not responsible for supervisor’s actions in this regard.

FAQ about Certification

For more information on ICEEFT certification and training please click here