Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) as a Primary Intervention of Change for a Survivor of Sexual Abuse with Co-Occurring Alcohol Abuse

Emotionally Focused Therapy was created in the 1980's by Leslie Greenberg. Les Greenberg, Ph.D., is one of the world's leading authorities on working with emotions in psychotherapy. Dr. Greenberg is among the primary developers of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for individuals and for couples. Greenberg originally created Emotionally Focused Therapy to study emotional processes and how people change.;Sue Johnson, a clinical psychologist, researcher, professor, author, popular presenter and speaker and one of the leading innovators in the field of couple therapy today joined Greenberg in 1988 to write Emotionally Focused Therapy for couples. Both Greenberg and Johnson consider emotional processes a critical component toward change and the therapeutic alliance a requirement for healing to occur. Emotionally Focused therapy has been treating couples and individuals successfully for many years. Depression, grief and loss, and marital distress are among the issues Emotionally Focused Therapy proves a successful method of treatment.;Literature identifies Emotionally Focused Therapy and its view on treating abuse as effective. The purpose of this study was to investigate Emotionally Focused Therapy and its effectiveness working with a Sexual Abuse Survivor with co-occurring alcohol abuse.;A qualitative informal Single Case Study Design was chosen for this case because the systemic nature of the research participant fits the systemic nature of the theory being used to treat the participant. This design utilizes a flexible methodology remaining subject centered during the entire research itself. Data analysis for this study consists of an Intensive Case review and the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R) Questionnaire implementing a pre and post assessment measuring adult attachment and experiences in close relationships to contribute to measuring change. In addition to the ECR-R the research participant participated in nine therapy sessions using Emotionally Focused Therapy techniques and interventions. The investigator reviewed audio and transcribed session dialogue looking for markers of change as a result of the interventions utilized from Emotionally Focused Therapy.;The results revealed the participant in this study experienced a change emotionally as the therapeutic relationship grew as indicative of the change in behaviors as well as attitude toward relationships. The ECR-R additionally indicated a change in the participant's attitude answering questions with more confidence in association to relationships and feeling safe. According to the ECR-R the participants attachment modality changed from an anxious attachment to a more secure attachment. This identifies that relationship closeness does contribute to healing from trauma and that Emotionally Focused Therapy is effective working with a Sexual Abuse Survivor with co-occurring alcohol abuse.