Learning Emotion-Focused Therapy

"This book is the definitive resource for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of emotion-focused therapy. Elliott, Watson, Goldman, and Greenberg have crafted a richly layered guide that rewards close reading and reflection. Offering practical wisdom for therapists at every level, this is a game-changing addition to any clinician’s library." - Antonio Pascual-Leone, PhD, C Psych, Full Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada; author of Principles of Emotion Change: What Works and When in Psychotherapy and Everyday Life; coauthor of Emotion-Focused Therapy for Complex Trauma

"I have been waiting for this edition! In this volume, the founders of emotion-focused therapy share their clinical wisdom to support therapists who are just learning this approach. Chapters bring to life not only the theory of this therapy but provide guidance on what to do from moment to moment as a session progresses. What is so unique about their approach to training is that the recommendations are not framed in a prescriptive and rigid manner. Instead, cues and markers are described via many transcripts and case examples, so therapists learn from the start to adjust interventions to meet their clients’ needs. Because of this sensitivity to process and context throughout, becoming a responsive therapist is at the very heart of Learning Emotion-Focused Therapy." - Heidi M. Levitt, PhD, Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston, United States

"This is an outstanding book - one of the best books I’ve read on therapy. For those interested in learning about emotion-focused therapy, it is a treasure. It presents theory in an empathic way, which makes it easy to relate to and use in practice. It maps out detailed, step-by-step instructions for how to empathically respond to client problems and how to use emotion-focused techniques. But more: it integrates in both cultural sensitivity and a sensitivity to social justice issues. Finally, therapists of all persuasions will benefit from its insights into empathic relating, establishing a therapeutic relationship, and sensitive responsiveness to clients." - Arthur C. Bohart, PhD, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA; Professor Emeritus, California State University Dominguez Hills, Carson, United States

"As leading voices in emotion-focused therapy (EFT), Elliott, Watson, Goldman, and Greenberg offer a masterful update to a foundational text - an exceptional synthesis of clinical wisdom and empirical rigor. This second edition not only refines core EFT principles but also deepens our understanding of emotional processing, making it essential reading for therapists and researchers at all levels." - J. Christopher Muran, PhD, Dean and Professor, Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology, Adelphi University, Garden City, NY; Principal Investigator, Psychotherapy Research Program, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States

"Effective therapy, regardless of orientation, embraces the profound power of emotion to heal and transform. Learning Emotion-Focused Therapy, Second Edition is a brilliant synthesis of decades of research and clinical expertise, offering a clear and compelling guide to the principles and techniques that drive emotional change. With precision and depth, this book illuminates the nuances of process-guiding techniques that optimize therapeutic impact. Whether you’re new to emotion-focused therapy or a seasoned practitioner, this essential resource will elevate your practice, enrich the lives of your clients, and inspire your growth into a more skilled, attuned, and flourishing psychotherapist." - Shigeru Iwakabe, PhD, President, The Society for Psychotherapy Research; Co-Editor-in-Chief, Counselling Psychology Quarterly; Professor, Department of Psychology, Ritsumeikan University, Kyoto, Japan

"Here is an invitation for curious therapists to step inside emotion-focused therapy (EFT) from authors who know it deeply. Their book is rich in specifics that practitioners wonder about: What should I listen for? How do I relate to clients? What could I say or do? What if …? Yet it also conveys the heart of EFT, connecting to therapists’ own meaning and emotion." - William R. Miller, PhD, Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, United States

"With this second edition, the authors have created the most extensive and remarkable presentation of emotion-based psychotherapy ever written. It capitalizes on 20 years of research, practice, and training by four individuals who are the leaders of this therapeutic approach. Readers will be surprised to discover how much there is to learn about facilitating emotional growth." - Michael J. Lambert, PhD, Emeritus Professor of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States

"This book is a precious gift: to practitioners who want to expand and sharpen their clinical skills, to supervisors who want their trainees to become better therapists, and to the entire field of psychotherapy - whose primary mission is to foster the acquisition, implementation, and dissemination of effective strategies to decrease psychological suffering and increase self-actualization. This conceptually sophisticated, empirically based, and clinically oriented book belongs in every private practice, training program, and organization delivering mental health care services." - Louis G. Castonguay, PhD, Liberal Arts Professor of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, United States

"This book stands out as the most comprehensive and detailed resource on experiential psychotherapy interventions available today. Authored by the leading experts in the field, it is both authoritative and readable, and brimming with clinical wisdom. The authors effectively break down the complexities of psychotherapy with clear, actionable guidelines, while still honoring the richness and depth of the human encounter. This book will be an invaluable resource for all clinicians, whether they seek to use it as a complete framework or as a source for integrating emotion-focused techniques to deepen their clinical practice." - Jason Sharbanee, MPsych, Clinical, PhD, Senior Lecturer, School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Australia

"Whether you are an experienced emotion-focused therapy (EFT) therapist, are just starting to learn EFT, or are generally interested in psychotherapy, this book is essential. It offers an updated and profound understanding of and appreciation for the humanistic values in psychotherapy, explains the complex nature of emotions and how to facilitate them in psychotherapy, and provides vivid descriptions of how to develop your tools and yourself as a therapist. All in a reader friendly and academically thorough and humble manner." - Jan Reidar Stiegler, PhD, Research Director, Norwegian Institute for Emotion-Focused Therapy, Bergen, Norway