Brock Counselling

Emotion-Focused Family Therapy

Understanding EFFT

What is Emotion-Focused Family Therapy?

Emotion-Focused Family Therapy, or EFFT, is an evidence-based treatment modality that empowers parents and caregivers by providing them with the tools needed to improve their child’s mental health and well-being. These tools are broken down into 3 categories:

  1. Behavioural support (interrupting symptoms and increasing adaptive behaviours)
  2. Emotional support (using supportive language to deescalate and increase regulatation skills)
  3. Therapeutic apology (focusing on relationship repair, sharing the burden, and relieving self-blame)

In addition, EFFT assists parents with “emotional blocks” that may be interfering with applying support. 

Emotional blocks are the invisible mental and physical barriers that interfere with one’s ability to feel, process, and share feelings. These blocks are used to protect individuals from stress, pain, and difficult emotions.

The goal of EFFT is to help build, strengthen, and restore family connections by providing the tools, insight, and support parents need to care for their children with confidence.

Who It’s For

Is EFFT right for your family?

EFFT is a skills-based therapy model that can be used across many populations, including parent-child relationships, parent-teen relationships, and adult relationships. EFFT is especially effective for parents who feel stuck and have regular difficulty navigating the emotional and behavioural demands of their children. EFFT can assist with many in-home dynamics, including:

Our Approach

How we use EFFT

Our therapists work closely with caregivers, and often with the young person too, to build a coordinated path toward healing.

Understand the Emotional Pattern

We help you understand the emotions underneath your child's behaviour, and the patterns of interaction — on both sides — that may be reinforcing distress.

Build Caregiver Skills

We coach you in practical emotion-coaching skills: how to validate big feelings, stay regulated yourself, and respond in ways that help your child feel safe rather than shut down.

Repair and Strengthen Connection

As new patterns develop, we help you and your child rebuild trust and strength connection and closeness, so your relationship becomes a source of safety and stability during future challenges.

Photo of Therapy room at Brock Counselling

EFFT Timeline

How long will it take to see change?

Change can be immediate, if parents are committed to applying learned strategies in the home. 

The initial session includes psychoeducation about how the child/adolescent brain functions and explores the reasons behind their responses and behaviours. Parents will share real-life examples to identify where communication breaks down and situations explode. The therapist will coach parents to respond to their child’s difficulty by using emotional support tools. At the end of the session, parents will receive a handout with talking scripts to use with their dysregulated child.  

Not sure if EFFT is for you? We welcome you to book a free 15-consult with one of our trained therapists: e-mail at info@brockcounselling.ca, or call/text: 905-320-2342.

Sessions are offered in-person, virtually, or by phone.

The Process

What to expect when you reach out

Starting therapy can feel like a big step. Here’s how the process works at Brock Counselling, so you know exactly what to expect.

1

Brief Consultation

Therapy begins with an initial 15-min phone consultation to discuss individual needs, as well as explore fit with a therapist.
This is also a good place to ask your questions about the therapy process, as well as share your best hopes for your family.

2

Your First Session

During this session, your therapist will spend time getting to know your family situation, your parenting style, and where communication breaks down. At the end of this session, you will receive a handout with talking scripts to use with your dysregulated child.

3

Ongoing Support

At the end of the first session, you and your therapist will discuss the best time to return. It is encouraged that you use the learned strategies regularly for a handful of weeks, prior to your first check-in. Consistency is very important when seeking change.

Not Sure Where to Start?

Choosing to reach out is the hardest part. Our team is here to answer your questions and help you find the right fit — no pressure, no commitment.

Ready When You Are

Book a Free Phone Consultation

Book a 15-minute phone consultation with one of our therapists. During this call, we’ll discuss your needs and goals and explore how our tailored approach can support your healing journey.

FAQs

How do I book an appointment?

There are many ways to book an appointment:

NEW CLIENTS: If you are a NEW client to Brock Counselling, please follow this link to send us a message: Contact Brock Counselling for Support and Therapy Services.

You can also book directly by e-mailing info@brockcounselling.ca or calling us at 905-320-2342.

EXISTING CLIENTS: If you are a CURRENT client, please use the Owl Portal link on the top right-hand side of the page. This will take you to the online booking platform: OWL, where you can book an appointment.

Alternatively, you can reach out to your therapist directly to book an appointment or contact info@brockcounselling.ca.

Therapy may be a good fit if:

  • You have a problem that is interfering with your daily life;
  • You have unresolved negative feelings that are affecting your work, home tasks, parenting, or relationships;
  • Your family doctor recommended that you speak with a social worker or psychotherapist;
  • You have been diagnosed with a mental health condition;
  • Your coping strategies are harmful to your health and well-being (drinking alcohol in excess, using drugs, disordered eating, isolation, ‘doom scrolling’); OR
  • You are looking for impartial feedback about your life and life choices.

People begin therapy for many different reasons. You do not have to have everything figured out before reaching out for support.

Therapy welcomes all individuals and requires no prior experience.

You do not need to bring or prepare anything for your first appointment – other than a willingness to participate and engage in the therapy process.

Your therapist will guide and support you through the first appointment. At the end of this appointment, your therapist will help you with setting goals and discussing what your hopes are for your therapy journey.

The primary differences between an RSW (Registered Social Worker) and a Psychologist are their education and the services they provide.

RSWs hold a Bachelor of Social Work or a Master of Social Work. This allows them to provide psychotherapy in Ontario.

Psychologists hold of Doctor of Psychology. While they can provide psychotherapy, most psychologists exclusively provide mental health assessments (i.e., Psychoeducational assessments, ADHD assessments, autism assessments).

It is best to speak directly with the professional about what services they provide.

Yes! Evening appointments are offered most nights of the week.

Weekend appointments are offered on Saturday morning and early afternoon.

Yes. What you share is confidential and your privacy is prioritized.

The information you share during a therapy session is protected by the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA), ensuring a safe and trusting therapeutic relationships between you and your therapist.

If you chose to share information with your spouse, family, employer, or other individual, you would sign a written consent. You have the right to revoke this written consent at any time.

Short answer, no.

Services are not offered outside of Ontario.

Registered Social Workers and Registered Psychotherapists are governed by separate regulatory bodies.

The Ontario College of Social Workers restricts services to clients located in Ontario.

The College of Registered Psychotherapists also restricts services to clients located in Ontario.

Absolutely!

In fact, fit is very important as it reflects the compatibility between you and your therapist.

Research consistently supports that the relationship between a client and therapist is the single most predictor in therapy success – as opposed to treatment type used, number of sessions, and diagnosis.

It may be a good fit if: 

  • You feel comfortable opening up, especially about the hard or embarrassing stuff;
  • You feel heard, understood, and respected;
  • You feel comfortable with your therapist challenging you in healthy ways;
  • You genuinely want to attend sessions, even when what you’re talking about is difficult.

Yes, some insurance companies allow for direct billing. Please reach out to the practice directly at info@brockcounselling.ca to inquire if your insurance company is on the list of approvals.  

Contact

Get In Touch

We are here to answer your questions and help you begin your healing journey. Contact us via phone, text, email, or fill out the form on the right hand side to get started.

We look forward to helping you become the best version of you!

Address

3344 Mainway, Burlington, ON, L7M 1A7