Counselling Week 8

Emotions and Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT)

• Emotions are not solely responsible for rational decision-making.

Emotion Theory

• According to Ekman, surprise is not considered a basic emotion.

Emotional Response

• The term "affect" is used to describe instinctive and intuitive physiological and psychological reactions experienced subjectively in response to stimuli.

Indigenous Australian Culture

• The Dharug nation, specifically the Wallumedegal clan, are the traditional custodians of the Macquarie University land.

Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT)

• Emotions are the primary motivational system throughout life, according to EFT.
• Enduring change is central to EFT, which is achieved through accessing and transforming emotional experiences.
• EFT fundamentally believes that traditional psychotherapy has neglected the role of emotions in transformation.
• The most basic process for the client in EFT is to become aware of their emotional experiences.
• The principles of Emotional Intervention in EFT include establishing a supportive relationship, increasing emotional awareness, and transforming emotional experiences.
• In EFT, the client becomes more skilful in accessing important information that emotions contain by developing a non-judgmental attitude towards their emotions.
• EFT is a neo-humanistic, experiential approach to therapy based on modern emotion theory and affective neuroscience.
• The most foundational belief of EFT is that emotions are a fundamental aspect of human functioning and that transforming emotional experiences is essential for lasting change.