Annual Four-Day Externship in Couples Therapy

Dr. Sue Johnson presents at the annual EFT Externship

Every summer, the Ackerman Institute holds a four-day intensive externship on a specialized type of therapy called “Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy.” 125 people took part in this year’s externship, from June 25 through 28, at the UJA Federation of New York. Participants learned about Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, and also watched live therapy sessions happening on-site.

Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy is a short-term (8-20 sessions) approach to couples therapy created in the 1980’s by Dr. Sue Johnson and Dr. Leslie Greenberg. Significant research has been done in this field of therapy, and overall, 70-75% of treated couples move from distress to recovery.

This dynamic externship is led by Dr. Sue Johnson, co-creator of Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, and adjunct faculty member George Faller, LMFT. Using a mixture of lecture, videotape, and observation of live interviews, the instructors train therapists in emotionally focused therapy.  This approach helps couples recognize problematic cycles of interaction in their relationship, along with how to restore the emotional bond once the negative cycles have been understood.

One participant described their EFT experience saying, “Sue is an amazing story-teller. The live sessions are mind-blowing and eye-opening. Predictably excellent yet amazing every time.”


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