2019_09_04_ICS_lafontaine

" Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) is about helping the couple to help each other in times of crisis, to deal with daily conflicts and problems". These are the words of Marie France Lafontaine, director of the Couple Research Lab and professor of Psychology at the University of Ottawa (Canada), on the framework of a visit at the University of Ottawa, Canada. Institute for Culture and Society (ICS) of the University of Navarra. Lafontaine is an expert in Emotion Focused Therapy, a method of couple therapy that she has been using in her private enquiry since 2003. 

On the occasion of his lecture, he gave interviews to ABC and Diario de Navarra in which he spoke about this new therapy. As he explained to journalists, the TFE does not focus "on conflicts or coping skills", but tries to "create (or recreate) an environment of security in the relationship".

For the expert "the more insecurity there is in the relationship, the more you lose the emotional connection and the more likely you are to get caught in cycles of fights". Thus, she commented that couples come to her enquiry complaining about problems such as children, the family Economics , time together, sexual relations, the work... However, these are nothing more than activators of their negative cycles. "Often, what underlies it is sadness and unmet attachment needs, such as being understood, loved, supported ...," he said.

In this way, the psychologist tries to help couples see that the problem is not the other person but the cycle - mutual reactions to each other's behaviors - in which they are stuck. Once they understand their conflict dynamics, the model TFE tries to "create new positive emotional connections by talking about their needs and helping them to be in tune," she said. 

"When there is security in a relationship, the couple can discuss with less critical charge, they are emotionally connected and can face problems," he said.

The expert offered the lecture 'Key issues for the clinical assessment of intimate partner violence with a couple and clinical options addressing this phenomenon including attachment-based interventions' at the ICS within the 'Ciclo de coloquios' of the project 'Education de la afectividad y de la sexualidad humana', of which she will be a collaborator during the 2019-2020 academic year.