Photo of Elana Dorfman, Clinical Social Work/Therapist in 21228, MD
Elana Dorfman
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified Verified
Catonsville, MD 21228  (Online Only)
Do you feel like there is something missing in your relationships? Are you feeling depressed, anxious, lonely, or angry? Are you struggling to understand why you behave and think a certain way? My philosophy is that positive relationships are the most important aspect to a healthy and fulfilling life. My greatest goal is to help others develop themselves so that they can more easily connect with others and reach a high level of satisfaction in their lives.
Do you feel like there is something missing in your relationships? Are you feeling depressed, anxious, lonely, or angry? Are you struggling to understand why you behave and think a certain way? My philosophy is that positive relationships are the most important aspect to a healthy and fulfilling life. My greatest goal is to help others develop themselves so that they can more easily connect with others and reach a high level of satisfaction in their lives.
(410) 346-5587 View (410) 346-5587
Photo of Alan Kutner, Clinical Social Work/Therapist in 21228, MD
Alan Kutner
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LMSW
Verified Verified
Catonsville, MD 21228  (Online Only)
"The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude about the problem." Are you tired of pretending "everything's fine", when it's not? Real men embrace vulnerability, honesty & courage. It takes guts to ask for help & face struggles head-on. It takes strength to open up & true bravery to take action for lasting change. We often hit a wall in life & reach a turning point – a bridge we need to cross. Are you looking for a therapist who is real and genuine & can guide you across? As we embark on this transformative journey, I will be here to support you every step of the way, empowering you to unlock your true potential.
"The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude about the problem." Are you tired of pretending "everything's fine", when it's not? Real men embrace vulnerability, honesty & courage. It takes guts to ask for help & face struggles head-on. It takes strength to open up & true bravery to take action for lasting change. We often hit a wall in life & reach a turning point – a bridge we need to cross. Are you looking for a therapist who is real and genuine & can guide you across? As we embark on this transformative journey, I will be here to support you every step of the way, empowering you to unlock your true potential.
(301) 273-1583 View (301) 273-1583
Emotionally Focused Therapists

Who is emotionally focused therapy for?

Emotionally focused therapy (EFT) is for couples who are emotionally distressed, stuck in an unsatisfying relationship pattern or feeling deeply alienated. They may even believe the relationship is beyond repair. Very often, the partners display intense anger, fear, grief, loss of trust, or a sense of betrayal in the relationship. In addition, EFT is helpful to couples and individuals who have difficulty expressing emotions and those who have trouble regulating emotions.

Why do people need emotionally focused therapy?

People need emotionally focused therapy because the need for others is built into the brain, but the pressures of daily life can erode feelings of love, and couples often do not have the skills to find their way back to the comfort of each other. Instead, they may be stuck in repetitive patterns of anger, fear, grief, loss of trust, or a sense of betrayal. Emotionally focused therapy regards such strong negative feelings as expressions of protest over the loss of connection and turns them into pathways of reconnection.

What happens in emotionally focused therapy?

Over the course of eight to 20 weekly sessions, couples de-escalate their negative emotional reactivity to one another so that they can listen to each other and be responsive to each other’s needs. Then the deep emotional and physical bond is restored, giving partners a sense of comfort and security, which they can use to solve whatever problems come their way. The therapist plays an active role, helping partners understand how anger and withdrawal are actually misguided cries for connection.

What problems does emotionally focused therapy treat?

EFT is designed to help couples stuck in dysfunctional relationship patterns regain closeness and rebuild their relationship. Typically, such couples experience considerable distress, with partners feeling alienated and distrustful of one another, not certain their relationship can survive. EFT is also helpful to individuals experiencing attachment-related fears of loss; it helps them learn to use their fears as a way of eliciting the closeness they desire.