At the beginning of my career, I trained with Les Greenberg, the pioneer of Emotion-Focused Therapy for individuals, as well as Roy Hodgson, in the use of the method for clearing up unfinished business and working with shame and anxiety. Recently I have circled back and am receiving further training, mainly from Leanne Campbell, in the use of Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) for trauma treatment. EFIT, developed by Sue Johnson, is the latest incarnation of Greenberg’s early work.
In this method, we reshape pivotal traumatic moments in the past that are affecting reactions in the present. We do this by creating emotional encounters, often between the client’s current self and a younger version of the self, that allow for expanding their view of self and other and releasing emotion that the young self was unable to process without the presence of a caring adult. Key to this work is the presence of the attuned therapist to provide support for the client who provides support for the young self.
Although the methods differ somewhat, this approach for treating trauma jibes very well with Janina Fisher’s parts work described in an earlier post. Probably because it is so reminiscent of my early training with Greenberg and Hodgson, I am finding EFIT fits best for me as a therapist.
Thanks are due to the clients who have worked with me as I hone my EFIT for trauma skills.