Why Emotionally Focused Therapy Works: 3 Reasons EFT is So Effective

After 20 years of experience as a therapist—and with Candace’s 20 years of experience—we know at Peterson Family Therapy that Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and attachment work is the most effective type of therapy available today, especially for couples.

The question is: why does EFT work so well when other approaches fall short?

Let me break it down into three key reasons.

1. We Work With Emotion, In Emotion

The first reason EFT is so effective is simple: we work in what we call “present process.” This means we work with our clients in their feelings, helping them get to the bottom of how they feel and why they feel that way, all from the perspective of Attachment Theory. Why do you feel scared? Why do you feel happy? Why do you feel like you need to run away? Why is there so much conflict? Why that anger?

And a key follow up: how old were you when you first felt that emotion?

Emotion is what drives behavior. So many other therapeutic approaches focus on thoughts or behaviors alone, but EFT recognizes that lasting change happens when we address the emotions underneath. We don’t just talk about feelings—we help you experience them, understand them, and work through them in the moment.

2. We Focus on Attunement

The second reason EFT works is our focus on what we call “attunement.” This means tuning into your client emotionally and that means teaching our clients how to connect emotionally with their children, their spouses, their partners, and the people they work with.

Emotional attunement is about slowing down and deeply listening to the other person, trying to deeply understand the other person. And then, when this deep listening happens, the other person will FEEL seen and heard and validated. You know that attunement is happening when the other person is experiencing your emotional connection. This is the heart of secure attachment. When partners learn to attune to each other—really seeing, hearing, and responding to each other’s emotional needs. When this starts happening regularly, then relationships will start healing and transforming. The defensive patterns that have caused so much pain begin to shift, and genuine connection becomes possible again.

3. EFT is Empirically Proven

The third reason we know that EFT is effective is that it is an empirically proven type of therapy. It’s not just our opinion or clinical experience—though we have plenty of that. EFT has been empirically validated by many peer-reviewed professional studies. Here’s one powerful statistic: After engaging in EFT—which typically means weekly sessions for at least 2 to 3 months—75% of couples report significant improvement in their relationship by the end of the first year.

Let me repeat that: 75% of couples experience significant improvement!

No other type of couples therapy even comes close to these results.

The Bottom Line

Emotionally Focused Therapy is effective for three fundamental reasons:

1. We work with emotion, in emotion — addressing the feelings that drive behavior
2. We teach emotional attunement — helping clients truly connect with the people around them
3. EFT is a proven method — backed by rigorous research showing 75% of couples experience significant improvement

At Peterson Family Therapy, we’ve dedicated our careers to mastering this approach because we’ve seen firsthand how it transforms relationships that seemed beyond repair. If you’re struggling in your relationship and traditional approaches haven’t worked, EFT offers a research-backed path to healing and reconnection.

Ready to experience the power of Emotionally Focused Therapy? Contact Peterson Family Therapy today to schedule a consultation with Ed or Candace. With over 40 years of combined experience and specialized training in EFT, we’re here to help you and your partner rediscover the connection you’ve been missing.