University is the first to offer Emotional Focused Therapy training in England

It is also the only University in England to be recognised by the International Society for Emotion Focused Therapy.

The University’s courses offer a comprehensive range of accredited EFT training options, equipping clinical professionals to help clients by effectively harnessing the power of emotional experience.

EFT draws on a deep understanding of emotions as innate and adaptive systems that help us survive and thrive. By learning to work effectively with emotions, EFT-trained therapists can help clients regulate, express, and transform emotional experiences, promoting meaningful, lasting change in their lives. The programme is supported by 40 years of empirical research into psychotherapeutic change process and outcome.

Dr Anna Oldershaw, Reader in Clinical Psychology in the School of Psychology and Life Sciences, leads the training sessions. Under her guidance clinicians are trained to engage empathetically with clients, facilitating safe and support therapeutic environment where individuals can explore, make sense of and transform (stuck patterns of) emotional experience.

“Our mission is to train professionals to work with emotions as powerful sources of insight and growth. By understanding, accepting, and transforming emotional experiences, clients can develop a deeper sense of self and live more adaptive, fulfilling lives,” said Dr. Oldershaw.

“EFT provides clinicians with well-researched therapeutic techniques to support clients in accessing and using emotional information in ways that foster positive change.”

The EFT program at Canterbury Christ Church University ranges from introductory workshops through to full accreditation as an EFT therapist. Their most popular training is Core Skills in Emotion Focused Therapy (Level 1), an introductory course covering EFT theory and key experiential tasks to tackle common issues brought to therapy and which can be immediately and readily integrated into a therapist’s existing clinical practice. For full accreditation, clinicians may also complete Advanced Skills in Emotion Focused Therapy (Level 2), which delves deeper into EFT’s therapeutic techniques, considers therapeutic adaptations for specific clinical presentations and EFT case formulation.

In addition to Levels 1 and 2, Canterbury Christ Church University offers specialized EFT courses tailored to specific client or therapist groups, broadening the accessibility of EFT skills. These include:

• one-day workshops on a range of topics to support the Continuing Professional development of Person Centred Experiential Counsellors who offer EFT (within PCE-CfD) in NHS primary care Talking Therapy Services
• EFT for Couples
• emotion-Focused Skills Training (EFST) for Parents and Caregivers
• building Therapeutic Relationships and Advanced Empathy.

Each of these specialized courses can be taken independently, allowing professionals from various fields to gain EFT expertise relevant to the populations they serve.