Step into the world of Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT)—a groundbreaking, research-backed approach that transforms relationships and deepens emotional bonds. This immersive externship is your gateway to mastering the essential EFT framework, equipping you with the theory, clinical techniques, and interventions needed to help couples heal and thrive.
Developed by renowned psychologist Dr. Sue Johnson, EFT is a powerful, evidence-based model for understanding and reshaping love relationships. This externship is led by ICEEFT-certified trainer Dr. Paul Guillory, a dynamic and engaging expert in EFT. Dr. Guillory, author of the trailblazing book Emotionally Focused Therapy with African American Couples, is internationally recognized for weaving cultural and multicultural perspectives into EFT, ensuring a deeply inclusive and impactful learning experience.
Over four transformative days, you'll engage in interactive lectures, role-plays, video demonstrations, and live consultations, immersing yourself in the EFT model. You’ll gain firsthand experience with the EFT Tango, master key interventions, and develop a deeper understanding of how attachment science informs effective couples therapy.
This externship isn’t just training—it’s the first step toward EFT certification and an opportunity to join a global movement of therapists who are reshaping the way couples connect. Whether you're new to EFT or looking to refine your skills, this experience will expand your clinical toolkit and elevate your practice.
Join us and take the first step toward becoming an EFT-certified therapist—where science meets the art of love and connection!
PRESENTER BIO:
Paul T. Guillory, PhD, is a recognized leader in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), certified as a Trainer and Supervisor by the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT). With a strong commitment to cultural sensitivity and inclusivity, Dr. Guillory provides Emotionally Focused Therapy training and supervision to therapists seeking to enhance their cultural competence and effectively work with clients from diverse backgrounds.
You can learn more about Dr. Guillory here.
(Note: Event will proceed depending on registration numbers.)
What you should expect to learn in an “Externship”
- Participants will obtain a clear understanding of the basic experiential and systemic concepts of an “Emotionally Focused” approach to therapy.
- Participants will be able to view clients in the web of their interpersonal attachments and conceptualize relationship distress and repair based on theories of attachment and emotion.
- EFT is a relational therapy. The Externship will focus on the model of EFCT laid out in the 2019 book, Attachment Theory in Practice, and teach the model as implemented in couple therapy sessions.
- Participants will develop skills in sharing and maintaining an engaged, open and collaborative alliance with clients.
- Participants will obtain a clear understand of multicultural extra stress and the Extra-C.A.R.E. model.
- Participants will develop skills in the 5 moves of the basic macro-intervention – the EFT Tango – to change patterns of affect regulation, models of self and other, strategies for engaging others and interactional patterns.
- Participants will develop skills in EFT micro interventions taken from experiential and attachment systemic models of intervention.
- Participants will develop skills in overcoming common blocks and impasses in couple therapy and so shape core corrective emotional experiences that lead to constructive dependency and what Rogers termed ‘existential living.’
AGENDA
Day 1 AM
Registration and Check in
Introduction to Externship & Attachment Science as a Guide for Psychotherapy ― EFIT, EFCT, EFFT
Basics of the EFT Model ― Experiential & Systemic
Day 1 PM
Overview of the process of change ― Stages and Steps
EFT Tango Across Modalities and Multicultural Extra-C.A.R.E. model
Exercise or video Clip & Discussion
Day 2 AM
Case Presentation: Live Session or Tape Review or Case Role-Play ― Discussion
Assessment in EFIT & EFCT
Alliance Building
Day 2 PM
Stage 1 ― Stabilization / De-escalation of Negative Cycles
Exercise or video Clip & Discussion
Day 3 AM
Case Presentation / Live Session or Tape Review / Discussion
Micro Interventions / RISSSC / Catch-the-Bullet / Building Attachment / Slice It Thinner
Day 3 PM
Stage 2 and Change Events
Exercise or video Clip & Discussion
Day 4 AM
EFIT ― Goals ― Tango ― Watch DVD Sessions
Forgiveness and Attachment Injuries in EFCT
Day 4 PM
Escalated Couples / Traumatized Individual Clients
Exercises or Video Clip & Discussion
Who is this training for?
All mental health professionals including psychiatrists, psychologists, family physicians, social workers, psychiatric nurses, counsellors (including couples and family therapists), pastors and clergy, and students training in these professions. School counsellors and occupational therapists are permitted to attend if they are licensed and belong to a professional body that has standards of practice for psychotherapy/counselling.
Life coaches are not permitted to attend unless they also meet one of the mental health professional categories listed above.
Prerequisites & Sequence
EFCT Core Skills follows an Externship.
Required Reading: The Practice of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy: Creating Connection, 3rd edition, by Susan M. Johnson, 2020. Routledge.
Recommended Readings:
Attachment Theory in Practice: Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) with Individuals, Couples, and Families by Dr. Susan M. Johnson, 2019. Guildford Press.
Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist: The Workbook, 2nd edition, by James L. Furrow, Susan M. Johnson, Brent Bradley, Lorrie L. Brubacher, T. Leanne Campbell, Veronica Kallos-Lilly, Gail Palmer, Kathryn Rheem, Scott R. Woolley, 2022. Routledge.
Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy with African American Couples: Love Heals, by Paul Guillory, PhD, 2021. Routledge.
CONTINUING EDUCATION:
We are in the process of applying for 24 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, and for psychologists through the CPA OPD.
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
Those who attend this workshop in full and complete the course evaluation will receive a certificate of completion via email following the workshop. Please note that credit will only be granted to those who attend the entire workshop. Those arriving more than 15 minutes after the start time or leaving before the workshop is completed will not receive CE credit.
ACCOMMODATIONS:
NCCEFT meets all applicable local, state and federal standards, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), 42, U.S.C. 12101-12213 (2008)). We hold events only at professional venues that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), 42, U.S.C. 12101-12213 (2008)
ADA NEEDS: We will be happy to accommodate your ADA needs; please contact us at NCCEFTinfo@gmail.com at least two weeks prior to the seminar date.
NCCEFT PROGRAM GRIEVANCE AND REFUND POLICY:
The Northern California Community for Emotionally Focused Therapy (NCCEFT) is fully committed to conducting all activities in strict conformance with the American Psychological Association's Ethical Principles of Psychologists. NCCEFT will comply with all legal and ethical responsibilities to be non-discriminatory in promotional activities, program content and in the treatment of program participants. The monitoring and assessment of compliance with these standards will be the responsibility of the CPA PAS CE Program Director in consultation with the Board of Directors (Steering Committee).
While NCCEFT works to assure fair treatment for all participants and attempts to anticipate problems, there will be occasional issues which will require intervention and/or action on the part of NCCEFT. This procedural description serves as a guideline for handling such complaints.
When a participant, either orally or in written format, files a grievance and expects action on the complaint, the following actions will be taken:
1. If the complaint concerns a speaker, the content presented by the speaker, or the style of presentation, the individual filing the complaint will be asked to put his/her comments in written format. The CE Program Director will then pass on the comments to the speaker, assuring the confidentiality of the aggrieved individual.
2. If the complaint concerns a workshop offering, its content, level of presentation, or the facilities in which the workshop was offered, the CE Program Director will mediate and will be the final arbitrator. If the participant requests action during a workshop or conference, the CE Program Director or his/her representative will:
a. attempt to rectify the situation, and/or
b. provide a credit for a subsequent presentation, in the event of a program having an attendance fee or
c. provide a partial or full refund of the registration fee, in the event of a program having an attendance fee.
Actions 2b and 2c will require a written note, documenting the grievance, for record keeping purposes. The note need not be signed by the aggrieved individual.
3. If the grievance concerns the business practices of the NCCEFT CE program in a specific regard, the CE Program Director or Administrator will attempt to arbitrate.
CANCELLATION POLICY:
30 days or more before start date: full refund minus payment system processing fees.
15-29 days before start date, full refund minus 25% fee
No refund is possible less than 15 days before start date.
