Photo of Loula Kontoulas, Marriage & Family Therapist in Charlotte, NC
Loula Kontoulas
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified Verified
Charlotte, NC 28205
I believe we all have the potential to grow through challenges. Rather than living in distress, we can find ways to ease through the difficulties of life. Through my work with cancer patients, I developed a therapeutic framework based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help clients with various issues move from distress toward peace. In addition, I understand that one size does not fit all, so I use an integrative approach that draws from several disciplines.
I believe we all have the potential to grow through challenges. Rather than living in distress, we can find ways to ease through the difficulties of life. Through my work with cancer patients, I developed a therapeutic framework based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help clients with various issues move from distress toward peace. In addition, I understand that one size does not fit all, so I use an integrative approach that draws from several disciplines.
(980) 366-4358 View (980) 366-4358
Photo of Agape Christian Counseling Center, Counselor in Charlotte, NC
Agape Christian Counseling Center
Counselor, MA, LCMHC
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
Charlotte, NC 28227
We are a group of counselors who are dedicated to the well-being of our clients as we practice professional counseling from a Christian perspective. Whether it's anxiety, depression, trauma, losing a loved one, challenges at work, having hard time parenting your children or dissatisfaction in your marriage - we provide a safe place for you to come individually, as a family, or as a couple to explore the issues you might be experiencing, gain new perspective, and work on overcoming your difficulties. While taking an integrative approach to therapy, we welcome all people who seek counseling, regardless of religious background.
We are a group of counselors who are dedicated to the well-being of our clients as we practice professional counseling from a Christian perspective. Whether it's anxiety, depression, trauma, losing a loved one, challenges at work, having hard time parenting your children or dissatisfaction in your marriage - we provide a safe place for you to come individually, as a family, or as a couple to explore the issues you might be experiencing, gain new perspective, and work on overcoming your difficulties. While taking an integrative approach to therapy, we welcome all people who seek counseling, regardless of religious background.
(704) 448-0762 View (704) 448-0762
Photo of Advene Health Group, Clinical Social Work/Therapist in Charlotte, NC
Advene Health Group
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, LCAS
Verified Verified
Charlotte, NC 28270
My idea as a psychotherapist is to provide safe, comfortable & judgment-free environment for clients to work through issues. My role as a psychotherapist is to respect the goals that my clients come in with, and support the process of working toward these goals. I believe Psychotherapy can enhance one's self-awareness and the ability to recognize in one's own self-defeating and self-sabotaging patterns, and to change these patterns.
My idea as a psychotherapist is to provide safe, comfortable & judgment-free environment for clients to work through issues. My role as a psychotherapist is to respect the goals that my clients come in with, and support the process of working toward these goals. I believe Psychotherapy can enhance one's self-awareness and the ability to recognize in one's own self-defeating and self-sabotaging patterns, and to change these patterns.
(980) 247-4144 View (980) 247-4144
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.