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PULLING ON THE HEART STRINGS: AN EMOTIONALLY FOCUSED APPROACH TO FAMILY LIFE CYCLE TRANSITIONS
Author(s) -
Dankoski Mary E.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of marital and family therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.868
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1752-0606
pISSN - 0194-472X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1752-0606.2001.tb01155.x
Subject(s) - psychology , affect (linguistics) , transition (genetics) , social psychology , developmental psychology , family life , psychotherapist , communication , sociology , gene , gender studies , biochemistry , chemistry
Transitions through the family life cycle can be stressful because they challenge attachment bonds between family members. Open communication and the processing of primary attachment emotions are crucial when family systems change. When family members are insecurely attached, such open communication is difficult, and people tend to get stuck in absorbing states of secondary defensive affect. Emotionally facused therapy (EFT) can be particularly helpful by encouraging family members to express primary emotions. This expression than fosters renegotiation of bonds and the clarification of attachment needs and concerns. Case examples illustrate how EFT can be applied to each family life cycle stage.