Emotion-Focused Family Therapy
Unparalleled support for families and friends
Families and support systems play a critical role in their loved ones’ treatment and recovery process. At Eating Recovery Center and Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center, we empower caregivers to better support their loved ones through continued involvement, education and support: using Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT).
We deliver family-based skills, tools and resources through:
Weekly family therapy sessions
Virtual Family & Friends Education Series
Family support groups
Principles of EFFT include
Emotion Coaching: Teaching caregivers how to support their loved one to identify and express their thoughts and emotions. EFFT additionally teaches caregivers how to manage their own emotions, which can help strengthen and support their relationship with their loved one.
Behavior Coaching: Teaching caregivers how to support their loved one with interrupting behaviors/symptoms. The caregiver is taught how to work through obstacles and fears that may surface as they support their loved one in recovery.
Relationship Repair: Teaching caregivers how to facilitate healing, processing and recovering from past pain to support their loved one’s recovery. We also support caregivers in exploring what hinders effective support, such as fear and self-blame.
Incorporating families into care plans include
Education regarding the complexity of mental health conditions and treatment
Practice and guidance in how to encourage open and honest communication
Individualized strategies for protecting progress after treatment
Strategies for applying skills learned in therapy in the “real world”
Clarity on family goals and how to create a structure to achieve them
Our treatment team works to continuously support, educate and guide families in strengthening the patient’s path to recovery and increasing families’ connections with their loved ones.