title: Two-Year Follow-up Outcomes in Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy: An Investigation of Relationship Satisfaction and Attachment Trajectories.
abstract: Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFT; The practice of emotionally focused couple therapy: Creating connection. New York, NY: Brunner-Routledge) is an evidence-based couple therapy that aims to create lasting change for couples (Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 6(1), 67-79). Although studies have demonstrated strong results in follow-up (Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 28(4), 391-398), less is known about relationship functioning across time after therapy has ended. We modelled change in relationship satisfaction and attachment from pre-therapy through 24 months follow-up in 32 couples. HLM results confirmed a significant growth pattern demonstrating increases in relationship satisfaction and secure base behaviour and decreases in relationship specific attachment anxiety over the course of therapy and across follow-up at a decelerated rate. These findings support the theoretical assumption that EFT helps couples engaged in therapy create lasting relationship satisfaction and attachment change.
authors.affiliation: University of Ottawa, The Ottawa Hospital.|Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy.
authors.forename: Stephanie A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Wiebe
authors.affiliation: University of Ottawa, Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy.
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: University of Ottawa.
authors.forename: Marie-France
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Lafontaine
authors.affiliation: Mount Allison University Emmrys, Dawe, Parlee Group.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burgess Moser
authors.affiliation: Greenbelt Family Health Team, The Centre for Interpersonal Relationships.
authors.forename: Tracy L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Dalgleish
authors.affiliation: University of Ottawa, The Ottawa Hospital.
authors.forename: Giorgio A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Tasca
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019546:Couples Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009769:Object Attachment; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010549:Personal Satisfaction