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Cited by 161Psychotherapy Techniques and ApplicationsAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesPsychological Treatments and Disorders

Emotion-Focused Therapy: A Clinical Synthesis

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Greenberg, Leslie S.·2010·Focus
DOI 10.1176/foc.8.1.foc32
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Abstract

A summary of an emotion-focused approach to therapy (EFT) and its research base is presented. In this view, emotion is seen as foundational in the construction of the self and is a key determinant of self-organization. People, as well as simply having emotion, also live in a constant process of making sense of their emotions. In EFT, distinctions between different types of emotion provide therapists with a map for differential intervention. Six major empirically supported principles of emotion processing guide therapist interventions and serve as the goals of treatment. A case example illustrates how the principles of EFT helped a patient overcome her core maladaptive shame and basic insecurity in a relatively brief treatment of depression.

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  • Increasing awareness of emotions is a process frequently used in therapeutic contexts, and periodic emotional self-monitoring has been shown to facilitate increases in emotional self-awareness and improvement in mental health outcomes.

    “Increasing awareness of emotions is a process frequently used in therapeutic contexts [32] and periodically monitoring one’s emotions (ie, engaging in emotional self-monitoring) has been shown to facilitate increases in emotional self-awareness and improvement in mental health outcomes [33,34].”

    From Feasibility of "CopeSmart": A Telemental Health App for Adolescents (2015) · cites this paper as [32]

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Research works printed but not linked: 13

  1. [7]Elliott R, Greenberg L, Lietaer G: Research on experiential psychotherapy, in Bergin and Garfield's Handbook of Psychotherapy and Behavior Change. Edited by Lambert M. New York, John Wiley & Sons, 2004, pp 493-539
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  3. [22]Frijda NH: The Emotions. Cambridge, UK, Cambridge University Press, 1986
  4. [25]Oatley K: Best Laid Schemes. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 1992
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  8. Study of a Science, vol 3. Edited by Koch S. New York, McGraw-Hill, 1959, pp 184-256
  9. [37]Perls F, Hefferline RF, Goodman P: Gestalt Therapy. New York, Dell Press, 1951
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  12. [49]Greenberg LS, Pascual-Leone J: Emotion in the creation of personal meaning, in The Transformation of Meaning in Psychological Therapies: Integrating Theory and Practice. Edited by Power MJ, Brewin CR. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 1997, pp 157-173
  13. Davidson R: Affective style, psychopathology and resilience: brain mech- anisms and plasticity. Am Psychol 2005; 11:1193-1196

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Authors
Greenberg, L. S.
Corresponding author
Greenberg, Leslie S.
ORCID
Greenberg, Leslie S.
Venue
Focus
Publisher
American Psychiatric Association Publishing
Published
2010-01
Volume
8
Issue
1
Pages
32-42
ISSN
  • 1541-4094 (ISSN-L)
  • 1541-4108
DOI
10.1176/foc.8.1.foc32
OpenAlex
W2097564751
Cited by
159
References
26
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 3
FWCI
2.82
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
FOCUS The Journal of Lifelong Learning in Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychological Treatments and Disorders
Keywords
emotion-focused therapy, emotional processing, self-organization, self-construction, emotion types, depression, brief psychotherapy, therapist interventions

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