Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT) Singapore

What Is Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT)?

Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, or EFCT, is a short-term, structured approach to couple therapy grounded in attachment theory. Developed in the 1980s, EFCT helps couples understand and reshape the emotional responses that drive their patterns of conflict and disconnection.

Rather than focusing only on surface-level communication techniques, EFCT aims to rebuild the emotional foundation of a relationship. It supports couples in recognising negative interaction cycles, expressing unmet emotional needs, and creating new ways of relating built on trust, security, and emotional responsiveness.

At its core, emotionally focused therapy guides partners towards deeper emotional connection, helping them move from conflict to closeness, from distance to intimacy, and from fear to safety in the relationship.

How EFCT Works to Strengthen Relationships

EFCT follows a clear roadmap of transformation in three distinct stages. Each stage is designed to help couples move away from reactive conflict patterns and towards secure emotional bonds.

De-escalation of Conflict
In this stage, couples learn to recognise the negative cycle they are caught in—often blame, withdrawal, or repeated arguments. The therapist works with both partners to reduce the emotional intensity and help them understand how each person's behaviour is part of a larger dynamic driven by unmet emotional needs.
Restructuring the Bond
Partners begin to express their deeper fears, needs, and longings in a safe space. This opens the door to vulnerability and responsiveness, creating space for healing. The couple learns how to respond to each other in ways that promote connection, validation, and trust.
Consolidation and Integration
The final stage focuses on strengthening these new patterns of interaction. Couples develop new strategies for communication, repair, and emotional support that they can carry into future challenges, creating a more secure, resilient relationship.

Emotionally focused couples therapy has been shown to improve emotional closeness, reduce relationship distress, and build stronger communication foundations, especially when facing issues like infidelity, loss of trust, or ongoing conflict.

Why Emotionally Focused Therapy Benefits Couples in Singapore

In Singapore, where many couples juggle demanding work schedules, family obligations, and dual-income lifestyles, emotional connection can quietly erode beneath the weight of everyday stress. Over time, partners may feel misunderstood, unsupported, or emotionally distant, leading to communication breakdown, reactive arguments, or feelings of isolation.

Emotionally Focused Therapy in Singapore offers couples a way to interrupt these patterns and restore connection. Instead of focusing solely on practical problem-solving, EFCT addresses the emotional undercurrents beneath each interaction, or what each person truly needs in order to feel safe, loved, and secure.

By helping partners recognise these needs and respond to each other differently, EFCT offers a pathway to deeper intimacy, stronger attachment, and more meaningful communication.

Common benefits include:

Deeper Understanding – Partners learn to see each other’s inner emotional world, not just behaviours.
Reduced Conflict – EFCT helps couples shift out of reactive cycles and into responsive, supportive dialogue.
Renewed Intimacy – By rebuilding emotional safety, couples often reconnect emotionally and physically.
Greater Stability – EFCT builds a strong foundation for navigating future stressors, transitions, or changes.

Whether you're experiencing relationship drift, stuck in repetitive arguments, or navigating recovery after betrayal, emotionally focused therapy offers a compassionate and proven way forward.

EFCT
Relationship
Sue Johnson
Emotionally Focused Couple therapy

What Research Says About EFCT

A substantial body of research now supports the effectiveness of emotionally focused therapy, indicating significant treatment impact and enduring outcomes.

Its successful application extends across diverse couples in various settings including private practice, university training centres, and hospital clinics.

Research demonstrates its efficacy in addressing issues such as depression, trauma-induced anxiety, medical illnesses, and forgiveness conflicts.

EFCT's versatility is evident across different cultural backgrounds and educational levels, spanning regions from North and South America to Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Its success across both traditional and non-traditional couples reinforces its value in multicultural contexts like Singapore, where partners may face layered cultural or familial expectations.

Theresa Pong
The marriage counselling
EFCT

Why Choose The Relationship Room for Emotionally Focused Therapy

In the journey of love, EFCT stands out as a transformative approach, guiding couples toward a deeper understanding of themselves and their partners.

By addressing the emotional core of relationships, EFCT paves the way for lasting intimacy and a resilient connection that withstands the tests of time.

Whether you're facing communication issues, trust issues, or the aftermath of infidelity, EFCT provides a roadmap for couples to navigate their challenges and emerge stronger, more connected, and more in love than ever before.

At The Relationship Room, our Counselling Director, Ms. Theresa Pong, is one of the very few certified EFCT therapists in Singapore. She is also an approved Supervisor-in-Training for EFCT, providing clinical supervision to couples therapists across Singapore and Southeast Asia.

Consider exploring the transformative power of EFCT to unlock the full potential of your relationship or marriage.

Contact The Relationship Room today to find out more.

Let's Discover How EFCT Help to Enhance Your Relationship

In the journey of love, EFCT stands out as a transformative approach, guiding couples toward a deeper understanding of themselves and their partners.

By addressing the emotional core of relationships, EFCT paves the way for lasting intimacy and a resilient connection that withstands the tests of time.

Consider exploring the transformative power of EFCT to unlock the full potential of your relationship or marriage.

Contact The Relationship Room today to find out more.

Frequently Asked Questions About EFCT

How is EFCT different from regular couple therapy?

Unlike some forms of couple counselling that focus primarily on solving surface-level issues, Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy targets the emotional patterns and attachment needs that drive recurring conflict. It helps couples understand why they react the way they do and how to connect more safely and meaningfully.

How many sessions does EFCT usually take?

EFCT is typically conducted over 8 to 20 sessions, depending on the couple’s specific concerns and pace of progress. For couples looking for more intensive support, our Marathon Couples Therapy offers longer-format sessions designed to accelerate the healing process.

Can EFCT help if only one partner is willing to attend therapy?

While EFCT is most effective when both partners participate, individuals can still benefit from understanding attachment dynamics and emotional cycles. If you're unsure how to start the conversation, individual sessions may help, especially if you're managing concerns like anxiety or depression that affect your relationship.

Is EFCT suitable for couples dealing with infidelity?

Yes. EFCT is commonly used in the healing process after betrayal or infidelity. It creates a safe space for both partners to process the pain, rebuild trust, and understand the deeper emotional injuries beneath the breach.

Is online EFCT available at The Relationship Room?

Yes, we offer secure online therapy sessions for couples who prefer the flexibility of virtual counselling. This is especially helpful for busy professionals, expatriates, or couples living apart temporarily.