Emotionally Focused Therapy vs. Emotional Freedom Technique: Same Acronym, Different Things
If you searched for “EFT therapy Lisbon,” you may be looking for one of two very different things. Both are called EFT — but beyond the initials, they have almost nothing in common.
What is Emotionally Focused Therapy? What is Emotional Freedom Technique?
“EFT” is used for two entirely separate practices that happen to share an abbreviation. One is a well-researched form of couples therapy. The other is a body-tapping technique. People searching for either one regularly end up in the same search results — including, sometimes, on this page.
We want to be clear about which one we practice, so you can find what you’re actually looking for.
| Emotionally Focused Therapy | Emotional Freedom Technique | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A structured, evidence-based approach to couples therapy, developed by Dr. Sue Johnson | A “tapping” technique done while repeating statements about a feeling or issue |
| Basis | Built on attachment theory; works with the emotional cycles that keep partners stuck | Comes from a different tradition than psychotherapy |
| Research base | One of the stronger evidence bases of any couples therapy model | Not part of what we practice or recommend |
What we practice at Psychotherapy Lisbon
To be clear: at Psychotherapy Lisbon, we practice Emotionally Focused Therapy — the couples therapy model developed by Dr. Sue Johnson. We don’t offer tapping-based EFT, and it isn’t something we recommend as part of our practice.
If you came here looking for Emotionally Focused Therapy for your relationship, you’re in the right place — read more about how we work with couples.
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