Promoting Safety in Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy: An Interpersonal Neurobiology-Informed Approach for Couples Impacted by Trauma

Couples in which one or both partners have a history of trauma are at greater risk of experiencing couple distress due to deficits in relationship skills, such as emotion regulation. Heightened reactivity and dysregulation threaten the sense of safety needed for couples to tolerate the couple therapy process. Therapeutic interventions developed from Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) that target nervous system regulation and integration are presented to enhance the practice of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for couples. This enhanced approach promotes safety and the emotion regulation required for effective engagement in Emotionally Focused Therapy. A case example illustrates the integrated therapeutic approach.