Emotionally Focused
Therapy (EFT) 2026 | Study
Guide, Practice Questions,
Answers, Rationales &
Exam Review
Updated Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep and Comprehensive
Rationales
Included
, Emotionally Focused Therapy Emotionally focused therapy (EFT) is one of the most thoroughly researched
approaches in the field and is an empirically validated treatment for treating couples
and families, focus on the emotional system, which includes both interper- sonal
and intrapsychic systemic processes.
Attachment and Adult Love humans have the need for secure attachment relationships across the life span not
just in infancy and early childhood. Current medical research not only supports the
claim that secure attachment affects physical health, but specific correlations have
been identified: avoidant attachment styles are correlated with pain-related
complaints, and anxious attachment styles with cardio- vascular conditions, yet
secure attachment was not correlated with any specific health condition
Bowlby's (1988) theory of attachment to conceptualize 10 tenets of this theory,
adult love,
Attachment Is an Innate Motivating Force: The desire to be connected to others is an intrinsic physiological need of all
humans. This implies that a therapist's work is not done with any client until the
client has at least one secure relationship in his or her life.
Secure Dependence Complements Autonomy: Neither complete independence nor overdependence is possible, only effective or
ineffective dependency. Thus, in therapy, the therapist's goal is to help clients
develop an effective dependency (or interdepen- dency, if you prefer) with
significant persons in their lives.
Attachment Offers an Essential Safe Haven: Secure attachment provides a buffer against the stresses of life and measurably
reduces their psychological and physiological effects.
Attachment Offers a Secure Base: Just like young children, adults also need a secure base to enable them to feel free
to experience exploration, innovation, and openness, which are all correlated with
positive psychological health and growth.
Emotional Accessibility and Responsiveness Build Bonds: Secure attachment is estab- lished by being emotionally accessible and responsive,
and thus, this is the focus of the working phase of EFT.
Fear and Uncertainty Activate Attachment Needs: When threatened, a person experi- ences an unusually strong emotional need for
comfort and connection; it is this need that fuels the destructive patterns too often
observed in couples and families.
The Process of Separation Distress Is Predictable: attachment needs are not met, the person experiences predictable responses of
anger, clinging, depression, and despair. This distress is experienced as a primal
survival need, thus helping to explain-but not justify-the often extreme and cruel
acts committed in the name of love.
There Are a Finite Number of Insecure Attachment Styles: When a secure relationship no longer feels secure, a person will use one of these
three typical patterns to defend him- or herself against the trauma of having a
secure relationship threatened.
Anxious and Hyperactivated: When needs are not met, the person becomes anx- ious, relentlessly pursues
connection, and may become clingy, aggressive, blaming, and/or critical.
Therapy (EFT) 2026 | Study
Guide, Practice Questions,
Answers, Rationales &
Exam Review
Updated Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep and Comprehensive
Rationales
Included
, Emotionally Focused Therapy Emotionally focused therapy (EFT) is one of the most thoroughly researched
approaches in the field and is an empirically validated treatment for treating couples
and families, focus on the emotional system, which includes both interper- sonal
and intrapsychic systemic processes.
Attachment and Adult Love humans have the need for secure attachment relationships across the life span not
just in infancy and early childhood. Current medical research not only supports the
claim that secure attachment affects physical health, but specific correlations have
been identified: avoidant attachment styles are correlated with pain-related
complaints, and anxious attachment styles with cardio- vascular conditions, yet
secure attachment was not correlated with any specific health condition
Bowlby's (1988) theory of attachment to conceptualize 10 tenets of this theory,
adult love,
Attachment Is an Innate Motivating Force: The desire to be connected to others is an intrinsic physiological need of all
humans. This implies that a therapist's work is not done with any client until the
client has at least one secure relationship in his or her life.
Secure Dependence Complements Autonomy: Neither complete independence nor overdependence is possible, only effective or
ineffective dependency. Thus, in therapy, the therapist's goal is to help clients
develop an effective dependency (or interdepen- dency, if you prefer) with
significant persons in their lives.
Attachment Offers an Essential Safe Haven: Secure attachment provides a buffer against the stresses of life and measurably
reduces their psychological and physiological effects.
Attachment Offers a Secure Base: Just like young children, adults also need a secure base to enable them to feel free
to experience exploration, innovation, and openness, which are all correlated with
positive psychological health and growth.
Emotional Accessibility and Responsiveness Build Bonds: Secure attachment is estab- lished by being emotionally accessible and responsive,
and thus, this is the focus of the working phase of EFT.
Fear and Uncertainty Activate Attachment Needs: When threatened, a person experi- ences an unusually strong emotional need for
comfort and connection; it is this need that fuels the destructive patterns too often
observed in couples and families.
The Process of Separation Distress Is Predictable: attachment needs are not met, the person experiences predictable responses of
anger, clinging, depression, and despair. This distress is experienced as a primal
survival need, thus helping to explain-but not justify-the often extreme and cruel
acts committed in the name of love.
There Are a Finite Number of Insecure Attachment Styles: When a secure relationship no longer feels secure, a person will use one of these
three typical patterns to defend him- or herself against the trauma of having a
secure relationship threatened.
Anxious and Hyperactivated: When needs are not met, the person becomes anx- ious, relentlessly pursues
connection, and may become clingy, aggressive, blaming, and/or critical.
