Integrating Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT)
EFT is an effective, evidence based approach to working with couples. Research studies have found that 70-73% of couples move from distress to recovery and 86% show significant improvements when treated with EFT. This collaborative approach mixes experiential Rogerian techniques with structural, systemic interventions that extend the ideas of attachment theory to romantic relationships. Advances in the study of emotional regulation support EFT's use of emotion as a primary source of information to the self and to others about needs and motives as a primary route to connecting with attachment figures.
In this workshop, Dr. Sutton will review the research and theoretical basis for Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT), and will teach the techniques of EFT. The workshop will include videos of EFT used with a couple in Stage 1 as well as a couple in Stage 2, in order to see the theory and techniques in action. The attendees will have a chance to role play with coaching from Dr. Sutton, in order to try using what they’ve learned using EFT.
Although EFT will be the majority of the focus of this workshop, Dr. Sutton will also review the history of couples therapy and discuss how he uses various concepts from other couples therapy theories, to inform is empathic conjectures, reflections, and enactments with couples who he is treating with EFT. He will discuss Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Fighting for Your Marriage by Howard Markman, Ph.D.,, Love Languages, Sex Therapy Techniques, Working with Couples in a Step Family, Domestic Violence, and recovering from affairs. He will also present evidence based protocols for working with individual issues such as ADHD, OCD, panic disorder, and trauma, and discuss how one might work with these issues in a couples context.
In this workshop, Dr. Sutton will review the research and theoretical basis for Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT), and will teach the techniques of EFT. The workshop will include videos of EFT used with a couple in Stage 1 as well as a couple in Stage 2, in order to see the theory and techniques in action. The attendees will have a chance to role play with coaching from Dr. Sutton, in order to try using what they’ve learned using EFT.
Although EFT will be the majority of the focus of this workshop, Dr. Sutton will also review the history of couples therapy and discuss how he uses various concepts from other couples therapy theories, to inform is empathic conjectures, reflections, and enactments with couples who he is treating with EFT. He will discuss Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Fighting for Your Marriage by Howard Markman, Ph.D.,, Love Languages, Sex Therapy Techniques, Working with Couples in a Step Family, Domestic Violence, and recovering from affairs. He will also present evidence based protocols for working with individual issues such as ADHD, OCD, panic disorder, and trauma, and discuss how one might work with these issues in a couples context.
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W. Keith Sutton, Psy.D. is a psychologist who has been working with couples since 2004 using Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy as well as Gottman Method Couples Therapy approaches. He is a certified Emotionally Focused Couples Therapist and Supervisor. Dr. Sutton primarily uses the techniques and theory of EFT, but finds the Gottman research and other approaches helpful in understanding couples experiences, thus assisting in tracking the cycle and reflections. He also incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and EMDR into his work when treating individual issues within the context of the couple. He specializes in working with couples who have ADHD, Complex PTSD, anxiety disorders (e.g., Panic Attacks, OCD, Phobias, Generalized Anxiety), depression, and parents of children of all ages. His clinical practice is in San Francisco and Corte Madera, as well as anywhere throughout California via Zoom, and he is the director of the Institute for the Advancement of Psychotherapy and its nonprofit partner, Bay Area Community Counseling, where he teaches, supervises, and provides consultation to clinicians in training and licensed experienced clinicians.
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WORKSHOPS
This six hour workshop is geared both towards clinicians new to couples therapy, Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT), and/or Gottman Method Couples Therapy as well as those experienced with these approaches. We will review the the theoretical underpinnings to EFT, the stages and steps of working with couples, and skills needed to be successful with couples using EFT. We will also review the Gottman research, methods, and how to incorporate individual such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) approaches into working in a couples context.
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Workshop Schedule
10:00 - 10:30 - Introductions & Couples Therapy
10:30 - 11:30 - Theoretical Groundings of EFT 11:30 - 12:00 - History of Couples Therapy, Gottman, & Other Couples Concepts 12:15 - 1:15 - Lunch 1:15 - 2:15 - Video of EFT Stage 1 2:15 - 3:00 - Techniques of EFT 3:00 - 3:30 - Role Play EFT 3:30 - 3:45 - Break 3:45 - 4:30 - Video of EFT Stage 2 4:30 - 4:45 - Treating Individual Issues in a Couples Context 4:45 - 5:00 - Treating OCD, Panic, & ADHD with CBT & PTSD with EMDR in Couples |
Summer 2025 EFT Workshop
When: July 29th, 2025; 10am - 5pm PDT Where: Alliant International University (In-Person at 1475 66th St. Suite 104 Emeryville, CA 94608) & via Zoom (Online) Cost: $150 ($75 student/pre-licensed)** CE: 6 CE for an additional $30 This summer workshop is one workshop in a week long summer intensive. To sign up for the whole week, or another individual workshop, click here Winter 2026 EFT Workshop
When: January 23rd, 2026; 10am - 5pm PDT Where: via Zoom (Online) Cost: $150 ($75 student/pre-licensed)** |
For more information about this workshop, contact us at [email protected] or (415) 617-5932.
For information regarding workshop accommodations, and cancellation/refund policies, visit sfiap.com/faqs.
For information regarding workshop accommodations, and cancellation/refund policies, visit sfiap.com/faqs.
*There is also a 10% discount if you register groups of 4+ at a time. Please contact us by phone (415) 617-5932 or email [email protected].
**Attendees from other countries who cannot afford the US rate can contact us to have a comparable purchasing power ratio for their country applied. The ratio is calculated based on the information provided here. Please email [email protected] for more information.
**Attendees from other countries who cannot afford the US rate can contact us to have a comparable purchasing power ratio for their country applied. The ratio is calculated based on the information provided here. Please email [email protected] for more information.
ONE WAY MIRROR TRAINING
Participants who have taken the six hour workshop in EFT (or have taken the EFT Externship) will be invited to attend the 10 session live "one way mirror" training where one therapist from the training will volunteer to see the client*, while Dr. Sutton calls into the session, giving suggestions while the group watches the session via video camera. The series is limited to 6 participants. The first 30 minutes of the training will be spent discussing the case, the plan for the session that day, and addressing the theory and techniques. The client will then work with the therapist for 50 minutes while the team gives suggestions during the session. After the session is over, the group will spend the last 30 minutes discussing what worked, what didn't, and why. We will be able to go beyond just theory and technique and see how to apply the approaches in practice.
*IAP cannot guarantee that we will have a client or that the client will come for all 10 sessions. If this does happen, then we will use the time as a consultation group, may have people in the training bringing in their clients for a single session, or watch videos of sessions. IAP will make every effort to have a client coming in for the therapy and we have been able to have a client each time, so the likelihood of not having a client is very low.
*IAP cannot guarantee that we will have a client or that the client will come for all 10 sessions. If this does happen, then we will use the time as a consultation group, may have people in the training bringing in their clients for a single session, or watch videos of sessions. IAP will make every effort to have a client coming in for the therapy and we have been able to have a client each time, so the likelihood of not having a client is very low.
*The series is limited to 6 individual participants.
**Groups larger or smaller than 6 participants may split the total costs. Please reach out to [email protected] if you have a group of 6+ for assistance registering.
Most attendees can not attend all 10 sessions, which is common. The amount of 10 sessions is the same as taking a class, so unfortunately, we do not refund if the person cannot make a session. All proceeds from the training and client payments go to hiring trainers, equipment, and rent for the trainings. If there are not enough people signed up for attendance, the One-Way Trainings may be cancelled. There will be a confirmation email going out one week before stating if so. If you have already paid, you will be reimbursed. If you have to cancel and do so before 24 hours of the event, you will be reimbursed. Audio and Video recordings may take place at the event. This would be for professional use and could show up on the IAP website. Any confidential information will be edited out at your discretion.
**Groups larger or smaller than 6 participants may split the total costs. Please reach out to [email protected] if you have a group of 6+ for assistance registering.
Most attendees can not attend all 10 sessions, which is common. The amount of 10 sessions is the same as taking a class, so unfortunately, we do not refund if the person cannot make a session. All proceeds from the training and client payments go to hiring trainers, equipment, and rent for the trainings. If there are not enough people signed up for attendance, the One-Way Trainings may be cancelled. There will be a confirmation email going out one week before stating if so. If you have already paid, you will be reimbursed. If you have to cancel and do so before 24 hours of the event, you will be reimbursed. Audio and Video recordings may take place at the event. This would be for professional use and could show up on the IAP website. Any confidential information will be edited out at your discretion.
CONSULTATION GROUP
2025-2026
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Fall-Winter 2025 EFT Consultation Group Series
When: 6 sessions - Fridays; 1pm - 2 pm PDT Session Dates: 9/12, 10/10, 11/7, 12/12, 1/9, 2/13 Where: Zoom Cost: $600 for series |
Spring-Summer 2026 EFT Consultation Group Series
When: 6 sessions - Fridays; 1pm - 2 pm PDT Session Dates: 3/13, 4/10, 5/8, 6/12, 7/10, 8/14 Where: Zoom Cost: $600 for series |
*The series is limited to 3 individual participants.
If there are not enough people signed up for attendance, the Consultation Groups may be cancelled. There will be a confirmation email going out one week before stating if so. If you have already paid, you will be reimbursed. If you have to cancel and do so before 24 hours of the event, you will be reimbursed. Audio and Video recordings may take place at the event. This would be for professional use and could show up on the IAP website. Any confidential information will be edited out at your discretion.
If there are not enough people signed up for attendance, the Consultation Groups may be cancelled. There will be a confirmation email going out one week before stating if so. If you have already paid, you will be reimbursed. If you have to cancel and do so before 24 hours of the event, you will be reimbursed. Audio and Video recordings may take place at the event. This would be for professional use and could show up on the IAP website. Any confidential information will be edited out at your discretion.
“I enjoyed it so much! It really helped me get a feel for how to use this in my work with couples. I’d love to get more training! Thank you! J” |
"Wonderful introduction to Emotionally Focused Therapy. Very thorough and accessible. " |
“This was very helpful!"
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What Participants are Saying
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Upcoming Live Trainings |
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Information on Continuing Education Credit for Health Professionals
- CE credits for psychologists are provided by the Spiritual Competency Academy (SCA) which is sponsoring this program. The Spiritual Competency Academy is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Spiritual Competency Academy maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
- The California Board of Behavioral Sciences accepts CE credits for LCSW, LPCC, LEP, and LMFT license renewal for programs offered by sponsors of CE who are approved by the American Psychological Association.
- LCSW, LPCC, LEP and LMFTs, and other professionals from outside of California need to check with their state licensing board as to whether or not they accept credits from programs offered by approved sponsors of CE by the American Psychological Association.
- SCA is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN Provider CEP16887) for licensed nurses in California. RNs must retain their certificate of attendance for 4 years after the course concludes. Nurses outside of California must confirm acceptance with their licensing boards.
- For questions about your certificate or the content, logistics, or other support issues regarding this course, please contact the Institute for the Advancement of Psychotherapy at [email protected]. For questions about whether APA CE is valid for you, contact your licensing board directly. For general questions about APA CE, contact SCA at [email protected].
*There will be a dog present with Dr. Sutton at all trainings.
**3107 Fillmore St is an older building, which does not have an elevator.
**3107 Fillmore St is an older building, which does not have an elevator.
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San Francisco • Marin • East Bay • Peninsula • South Bay • Anywhere in California via Zoom |
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