Individual therapy · Online throughout California Emotionally Focused Therapy for individuals
Your emotions aren't the problem. They carry information about what you need. EFT helps you understand them, so you can stop repeating the same painful patterns.
Based in Irvine · Seeing adults online throughout California
What is Emotionally Focused Therapy?
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is an evidence-based approach grounded in attachment science: the research on how our earliest relationships shape the way we connect, cope, and see ourselves. Many people know EFT as couples therapy, but it's also used with individuals, where it's sometimes called Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT). I use EFT with individual adults only. I don't offer couples therapy.
In EFT, we slow down and pay attention to what you feel in the moment, not just what you think about it. Underneath anger, numbness, or anxiety, there's often something more tender, like a fear of not being enough, of being left, or of being too much. When those feelings are understood and met with care, they become a guide instead of something to manage.
What EFT can help with
- Relationship patterns that keep repeating, even with different people
- Feeling disconnected, numb, or unsure what you feel
- Anxiety, low mood, and harsh self-criticism
- Fear of rejection, abandonment, or being "too much"
- People-pleasing and losing yourself in relationships
- Grief, loss, and old hurts that still ache
What EFT looks like in session
- Slowing down. We notice what's happening in your emotions and your body as you talk, not just the story.
- Making sense of patterns. We look at the ways you learned to stay safe or stay connected, and how they show up in your life now.
- Feeling something new. Instead of only talking about change, you get to experience it in session: being understood, offering yourself compassion, or naming a need out loud.
- Bringing it into your life. Over time, those shifts show up in how you relate to partners, family, friends, and yourself.
EFT pairs naturally with the other approaches I use, like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and EMDR. We'll blend them based on what you need.
Online therapy isn't an emergency service. If you're in crisis, call or text 988, or call 911.
EFT questions.
Do you offer couples therapy?
No. I work with individual adults only. EFT for individuals focuses on you: your emotions, your needs, and the patterns you bring into your relationships.
Do I need to be in a relationship to benefit from EFT?
No. Whether you're single, dating, partnered, or healing from a breakup, EFT can help you understand yourself and connect more securely with the people in your life.
What if I'm not good at talking about my feelings?
That's very common, and it's okay. We'll go slowly, and part of the work is learning to notice and name what you feel. You don't need to arrive with the right words.
How is EFT different from other talk therapy?
Many approaches focus mainly on changing thoughts or behaviors. EFT works directly with emotions as they come up in session, using them to understand what you need and to create change you can actually feel.
Other ways I can help.
Wondering if we're a good fit?
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation. We'll talk about what you're looking for, answer your questions, and see whether working together feels right.