ABSTRACT
“‘The fear of showing my emotions just put me in a complete jail,’ a young woman said poignantly. Research affirms the value of emotion-focused therapy. Feelings are a compass to guide, protect, and provide the inspiration necessary to actualize a full life. Emotions connect us to others. Sadly, emotions frequently exist outside of awareness due to rejection and trauma. Self-acceptance becomes impossible when we neglect vital parts of ourselves.
Most of us believe that ‘working through feelings’ is a staple of psychotherapy. Yet, many clients and therapists avoid intense, complex emotions, fearing these states will destroy relationships and lead to abandonment or retaliation. Clinicians may encourage defensive affects, like weepiness or angry discharge, while fertile underlying emotions go undetected. Session vignettes demonstrate how to artfully diminish inhibitory states and defensive strategies and allow transformative feelings to rise to consciousness.”
