The Leading Edge in Emotionally Focused Therapy

Welcome to the Leading Edge in Emotionally Focused Therapy, hosted by Drs. James Hawkins, Ph.D., LPC, and Ryan Rana, Ph.D., LMFT, LPC—Renowned ICEEFT Therapists, Supervisors, and Trainers. We're thrilled to have you with us. We believe this podcast, a valuable resource, will empower you to push the boundaries in your work, helping individuals and couples connect more deeply with themselves and each other. In this episode of "Leading Edge in Emotionally Focused Therapy", Dr. James Hawkins and Dr. Ryan Rana dive deep into Stage Two therapy, exploring the critical question: "How deep is deep enough?" They discuss the nuanced process of helping couples explore painful emotional experiences and turn over metaphorical "stones" of past trauma and attachment injuries. Top Points: 1. Stage Two Depth Requires Repetition * Re-engagement for withdrawers typically takes 3-9 sessions * Therapists must repeatedly explore painful experiences * Build momentum from session to session 2. Key Stage Two Strategies * Enter difficult conversations from a positive foundation * Use scene-setting techniques to evoke deeper emotions * Convert individual pain into co-regulation opportunities 3. Exploring "Stones" (Painful Experiences) * Look for deepest fears * Uncover negative self-views * Explore barriers to seeking comfort * Address attachment injuries, trauma, marginalization experiences 4. Critical Therapeutic Approach * Walk with clients through their emotional "basement" * Help clients build confidence in facing difficult memories * Ensure partners can provide comfort in vulnerable moments * Create "experiential bridges" for future emotional support   To support our mission and help us continue producing impactful content, your financial contributions via Venmo (@leftpodcast) are greatly appreciated. They play a significant role in keeping this valuable resource available and are a testament to your commitment to our cause. We aim to equip therapists with practical tools and encouragement for addressing relational distress. We're also excited to be part of the team behind Success in Vulnerability (SV) [https://www.successinvulnerability.com/]—your premier online education platform. SV offers innovative instruction to enhance your therapeutic effectiveness through exclusive modules and in-depth clinical examples.  Stay connected with us: * Facebook: Follow our page @pushtheleadingedge * Ryan: Follow @ryanranaprofessionaltraining on Facebook and visit his website * James: Follow @dochawklpc on Facebook and Instagram, or visit his website at dochawklpc.com [https://www.dochawklpc.com/] * George Faller: Visit georgefaller.com [https://www.georgefaller.com/] If you like the concepts discussed on this podcast you can explore our online training program, Success in Vulnerability (SV). [https://www.successinvulnerability.com/] Thank you for being part of our community. Let's push the leading edge together!

Welcome to the Leading Edge in Emotionally Focused Therapy, hosted by Drs. James Hawkins, Ph.D., LPC, and Ryan Rana, Ph.D., LMFT, LPC—Renowned ICEEFT Therapists, Supervisors, and Trainers. We're thrilled to have you with us. We believe this podcast, a valuable resource, will empower you to push the boundaries in your work, helping individuals and couples connect more deeply with themselves and each other. Summary: This episode of "Push the Leading Edge" focuses on Stage 2, Step 5 of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), specifically exploring the concept of "Deadly Attachment Messages" (DAMs) and their role in deepening therapeutic work. Dr. James Hawkins and Dr. Ryan Rana discuss how therapists can help clients access and process their most painful, internalized beliefs about themselves—beliefs that often drive protective behaviors in relationships. The episode emphasizes the importance of staying with clients in these vulnerable places, facilitating experiential change, and preparing for partner acceptance and new ways of reaching for needs. The hosts also share practical tips, personal experiences, and resources for therapists seeking to improve their EFT practice. Top 10 Points: 1. **EFT Intensives Resource**: The hosts highlight EFT intensives available in Northwest Arkansas, recommending them as valuable resources for therapists and couples. intensives@thejoshuacenter.com.  2. **Upcoming SV Focus Lab**: Announcement and encouragement to attend the SV Focus Lab in September 2025, focusing on therapeutic pivots. 3. **Stage 2 Overview**: Stage 2 in EFT is about restructuring the bond by helping the more withdrawn partner re-engage vulnerably, followed by work with the pursuing partner to soften their approach. 4. **Step 5 Focus**: Step 5 is the most intra-psychic part of EFT, where therapists help clients access the deep, painful beliefs about themselves that have developed from negative cycles. 5. **Deadly Attachment Messages (DAMs)**: DAMs are the core negative beliefs clients hold about themselves (e.g., "I'm unlovable," "I'm stupid"), often rooted in both relationship dynamics and personal history. 6. **Stage 1 vs. Stage 2 DAMs**: In Stage 1, DAMs are often externalized (what the partner thinks of them), while in Stage 2, the focus shifts to when clients start to believe these messages about themselves. 7. **Experiential Depth**: Effective Step 5 work requires therapists to stay with clients in their pain, facilitating deep limbic (emotional) experiences rather than just cognitive insight. 8. **Therapist’s Role**: Therapists must be willing to "walk into the darkness" with clients, maintaining a non-anxious, present stance to help clients feel safe enough to explore their deepest fears. 9. **Partner Acceptance and Reaching for Needs**: After accessing DAMs, the process moves toward helping the partner accept these vulnerable parts and supporting the client in reaching for comfort and connection. 10. **Patience and Repetition**: Deepening and accessing DAMs is a repetitive, patient process—therapists may need to revisit and assemble the experience multiple times before clients can fully articulate and share their pain. Let me know if you’d like a more detailed breakdown of any specific section! To support our mission and help us continue producing impactful content, your financial contributions via Venmo (@leftpodcast) are greatly appreciated. They play a significant role in keeping this valuable resource available and are a testament to your commitment to our cause. We aim to equip therapists with practical tools and encouragement for addressing relational distress. We're also excited to be part of the team behind Success in Vulnerability (SV) [https://www.successinvulnerability.com/]—your premier online education platform. SV offers innovative instruction to enhance your therapeutic effectiveness through exclusive modules and in-depth clinical examples.  Stay connected with us: * Facebook: Follow our page @pushtheleadingedge * Ryan: Follow @ryanranaprofessionaltraining on Facebook and visit his website * James: Follow @dochawklpc on Facebook and Instagram, or visit his website at dochawklpc.com [https://www.dochawklpc.com/] * George Faller: Visit georgefaller.com [https://www.georgefaller.com/] If you like the concepts discussed on this podcast you can explore our online training program, Success in Vulnerability (SV). [https://www.successinvulnerability.com/] Thank you for being part of our community. Let's push the leading edge together!

Welcome to the Leading Edge in Emotionally Focused Therapy, hosted by Drs. James Hawkins, Ph.D., LPC, and Ryan Rana, Ph.D., LMFT, LPC—Renowned ICEEFT Therapists, Supervisors, and Trainers. We're thrilled to have you with us. We believe this podcast, a valuable resource, will empower you to push the boundaries in your work, helping individuals and couples connect more deeply with themselves and each other. In this episode, we both share how we help our clients transition into the qualitatively different experience of stage two. James shares his informed consent speech, and Ryan shares his building of the safety platform.  To support our mission and help us continue producing impactful content, your financial contributions via Venmo (@leftpodcast) are greatly appreciated. They play a significant role in keeping this valuable resource available and are a testament to your commitment to our cause. We aim to equip therapists with practical tools and encouragement for addressing relational distress. We're also excited to be part of the team behind Success in Vulnerability (SV) [https://www.successinvulnerability.com/]—your premier online education platform. SV offers innovative instruction to enhance your therapeutic effectiveness through exclusive modules and in-depth clinical examples.  Stay connected with us: * Facebook: Follow our page @pushtheleadingedge * Ryan: Follow @ryanranaprofessionaltraining on Facebook and visit his website * James: Follow @dochawklpc on Facebook and Instagram, or visit his website at dochawklpc.com [https://www.dochawklpc.com/] * George Faller: Visit georgefaller.com [https://www.georgefaller.com/] If you like the concepts discussed on this podcast you can explore our online training program, Success in Vulnerability (SV). [https://www.successinvulnerability.com/] Thank you for being part of our community. Let's push the leading edge together!

Welcome to the Leading Edge in Emotionally Focused Therapy, hosted by Drs. James Hawkins, Ph.D., LPC, and Ryan Rana, Ph.D., LMFT, LPC—Renowned ICEEFT Therapists, Supervisors, and Trainers. We're thrilled to have you with us. We believe this podcast, a valuable resource, will empower you to push the boundaries in your work, helping individuals and couples connect more deeply with themselves and each other. Join Dr. James Hawkins, Dr. Ryan Rana, and special guest George Faller as they dive deep into the art of therapeutic pivoting. Discover how skilled therapists navigate moments of client openness, transform interventions, and create powerful therapeutic breakthroughs beyond traditional block management. Show Notes: * Explore the nuanced concept of clinical pivoting in Emotionally Focused Therapy * Learn how to recognize and leverage moments of client openness * Understand the importance of intentional therapeutic decision-making * Insights from experienced EFT trainers on reading client emotional states * Practical strategies for deepening therapeutic connections Key Takeaways: * Pivoting isn't just about managing blocks; it's about creating opportunities * Attunement drives therapeutic intervention choices * Therapists can become more intentional by understanding their moment-to-moment decision-making Special Announcement: Join the presenters at the SV Focus Lab, September 11-13, 2025, in Fayetteville, Arkansas (hybrid event) to dive deeper into these concepts! Recommended for: EFT therapists, counselors, and relationship specialists looking to enhance their clinical skills and therapeutic flexibility. Link for $50 discount to Focus Lab https://www.svfocuslab.com/leadingedge To support our mission and help us continue producing impactful content, your financial contributions via Venmo (@leftpodcast) are greatly appreciated. They play a significant role in keeping this valuable resource available and are a testament to your commitment to our cause. We aim to equip therapists with practical tools and encouragement for addressing relational distress. We're also excited to be part of the team behind Success in Vulnerability (SV) [https://www.successinvulnerability.com/]—your premier online education platform. SV offers innovative instruction to enhance your therapeutic effectiveness through exclusive modules and in-depth clinical examples.  Stay connected with us: * Facebook: Follow our page @pushtheleadingedge * Ryan: Follow @ryanranaprofessionaltraining on Facebook and visit his website * James: Follow @dochawklpc on Facebook and Instagram, or visit his website at dochawklpc.com [https://www.dochawklpc.com/] * George Faller: Visit georgefaller.com [https://www.georgefaller.com/] If you like the concepts discussed on this podcast you can explore our online training program, Success in Vulnerability (SV). [https://www.successinvulnerability.com/] Thank you for being part of our community. Let's push the leading edge together!

Welcome to the Leading Edge in Emotionally Focused Therapy, hosted by Drs. James Hawkins, Ph.D., LPC, and Ryan Rana, Ph.D., LMFT, LPC—Renowned ICEEFT Therapists, Supervisors, and Trainers. We're thrilled to have you with us. We believe this podcast, a valuable resource, will empower you to push the boundaries in your work, helping individuals and couples connect more deeply with themselves and each other. Join Dr. James Hawkins and Dr. Ryan Rana as they dive deep into the nuanced world of Stage 2 in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). In this illuminating episode, they unpack the critical transition from Stage 1 to Stage 2, providing therapists with a comprehensive guide to understanding when and how to help couples progress in their therapeutic journey. Using their innovative SAFE acronym, they provide practical insights into assessing client readiness, deepening vulnerability, and creating transformative therapeutic experiences. Episode Outline: 1. Introduction * SV Focus Lab invitation * Podcast mission and purpose * Importance of continuous learning in EFT 2. Stage 2 Overview * Common misconceptions about Stage 2 * Challenges therapists face in transitioning * The need for nuanced understanding 3. SAFE Acronym Breakdown 4. S - See the Cycle * Cognitive and experiential awareness * Understanding interpersonal impact 2. A - Access Vulnerability * Depth of emotional exploration * Balancing client capacity 100. F - Flexible Responses * Adapting to partner's protective moves * Demonstrating relational safety 500. E - Experiential Corrections * Importance of repeated corrective experiences * Assessing readiness for Stage 2 4. Practical Applications * Assessment techniques * Therapeutic strategies * Warning signs and opportunities 5. Conclusion * Invitation for further learning * Call to action for therapists Key Takeaways: * Understanding Stage 2 is about nuanced, patient therapeutic work * Clients must demonstrate readiness through multiple experiences * Therapists must balance pushing boundaries while respecting client capacity To support our mission and help us continue producing impactful content, your financial contributions via Venmo (@leftpodcast) are greatly appreciated. They play a significant role in keeping this valuable resource available and are a testament to your commitment to our cause. We aim to equip therapists with practical tools and encouragement for addressing relational distress. We're also excited to be part of the team behind Success in Vulnerability (SV) [https://www.successinvulnerability.com/]—your premier online education platform. SV offers innovative instruction to enhance your therapeutic effectiveness through exclusive modules and in-depth clinical examples.  Stay connected with us: * Facebook: Follow our page @pushtheleadingedge * Ryan: Follow @ryanranaprofessionaltraining on Facebook and visit his website * James: Follow @dochawklpc on Facebook and Instagram, or visit his website at dochawklpc.com [https://www.dochawklpc.com/] * George Faller: Visit georgefaller.com [https://www.georgefaller.com/] If you like the concepts discussed on this podcast you can explore our online training program, Success in Vulnerability (SV). [https://www.successinvulnerability.com/] Thank you for being part of our community. Let's push the leading edge together!