
Emotionally Focused Therapy Training with Yve Gould
Emotionally Focused Therapy is an experiential, humanistic and systematic model of couple’s therapy which is supported by a huge body of empirical research. EFT is considered the gold standard approach for couple therapy and draws on Attachment Theory and the power of emotion to improve the connection in dyadic relationships. It is based on the work of Dr. Sue Johnson.

Dr. Sue Johnson with Yve Gould
A Special Thank You
Dr. Sue Johnson has developed an unsurpassed treatment for distressed couples, Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy. She has won numerous awards for her contribution to training and research in the field of psychology and Marriage and Family Therapy.
Emotionally Focused Therapy Training Pathway for Couples (EFCT)
The Externship pathway training in EFT focuses on working with couples/dyads, however, includes some examples of how the EFT model can be applied across modalities to working with individuals (EFIT). After completing the Externship, you may choose to focus your training on working with Couples by undertaking an EFCT Core Skills training. Alternatively, you can complete Emotionally Focused Therapy for Individuals Training (EFiT) and Emotionally Focused Family Therapy Training (EFFT).
Yve provides training on the following EFT pathway course: Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples (EFCT).
To become a certified EFT couples therapist, participants need to undertake two training events in chronological order.
Step 1 - EFCT Externship
- Observation of live and video recorded couple therapy sessions
- Presentations of theory and clinical techniques
- Skills training exercises
- Discussion of specific cases, clinical material and issues
Step 2 - EFCT Standard Core Skills
The four-day Standard Core Skills program (24 hours) includes:
- 12 hours dedicated to Stage One and 12 hours dedicated to Stage Two.
- Standard Core Skills workshops are core training and are one of the requirements for certification in Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy.
- Applicants for certification are required to attend the full 24 hours.
- Upon completion of the full 24 hours, trainers will issue Standard Core Skills certificates to participants.
Eligibility for Emotionally Focused Therapy Trainings
In order to undertake training in Emotionally Focused Therapy for couples, individuals, or families, you must be a mental health practitioner such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, counsellor, social worker, or psychotherapist. You must have student, applicant or full membership to an appropriate professional body. School counsellors are permitted to attend if they belong to a professional body that has standards of practice for psychotherapy/counselling. Life coaches are not permitted to attend unless they also belong to one of the mental health professional categories listed above.
You can complete EFT training if you are currently studying for a mental health qualification (e.g. undergraduate or postgraduate student) and student discounts are available.
Registrants applying for the student rate must provide proof of enrollment in a course of study in a mental health field such as psychology, counselling, social work, psychiatry etc. Limited student places are available at each training event.
Scholarship, Student & Equity training places
The NZ trainers also offer scholarship places for tangata whenua course participants and low income subsidies for those working with under-served or marginalised people.
Please note, these applications are taken on a case-by-case basis and depend on numbers of scholarships/mentoring places already being given at each training event.
If interested in a scholarship, student or equity rate please email the training coordinator Stella at eftnztrainers@gmail.com
Recommended Reading & Study
To get the most from your EFCT training, we recommend completing some pre-reading.
Attachment Theory in Practice: Emotionally Focused Therapy for Individuals, Couples and Families (Johnson, 2019) and Becoming an EFT Therapist: The Workbook (Furrow et al, 2022) are excellent foundational texts for all EFT modalities (EFCT, EFIT and EFFT).
If you are attending an Externship in EFCT, we recommend reading the latest edition of The Practice of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy: Creating Connection (Johnson, 2019).
It is recommended that participants secure Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist: The Workbook (2nd edition, 2022) by James L. Furrow, Susan M. Johnson, Brent Bradley, Lorrie Brubacher, T. Leanne Campbell, Veronica Kallos-Lily, Gail Palmer, Kathryn Rheem & Scott Woolley, for the exercises relating to EFCT.
These two trainings constitute the pathway trainings for becoming an ICEEFT Certified Couples Therapist. To learn more about Emotionally Focused Therapy pathways, click on the following links:
2025 Course Dates and Registration

Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT) Externship 2025 (February Online)
Be introduced to the principles of Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT), incorporating recorded therapy session observations, theory presentations, skills training exercises, and case discussions.
- Mon 24, Tue 25, Thu 27, Fri 28 February 2025
- 10:00am - 5.30pm daily (NZT)
- Sun 23, Mon 24, Wed 26, Thu 27 March 2025
- 1:00pm - 8:30pm daily (PST)

Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT) Core Skills Standard 2025 (April Online)
Standard Core Skills EFCT training is an advanced training presented in two x 2-day classes, following the EFCT Externship, focused on deepening understanding and application of Emotionally Focused Therapy.
- Mon 7, Tue 8, Thu 10, Fri 11 April 2025
- 10:00am - 5.30pm daily (NZT)
- Sun 6, Mon 7, Wed 9, Thu 10 April 2025
- 2:00pm - 9:30pm daily (PST)

Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT) Externship 2025 (April/May Online)
Be introduced to the principles of Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT), incorporating recorded therapy session observations, theory presentations, skills training exercises, and case discussions.
- Mon 28, Tue 29 April, Thu 1, Fri 2 May 2025
- 10:00am - 5:30pm daily (NZT)
- Sun 27, Mon 28, Wed 30 April, Thu 1 May 2025
- 3:00pm - 10:30pm daily (PST time)

Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT) Standard Core Skills 2025 (Sept Online)
Standard Core Skills EFCT training is an advanced training presented in two x 2-day classes, following the EFCT Externship, focused on deepening understanding and application of Emotionally Focused Therapy.
- Mon 15, Tue 16, Thu 18, Fri 19 September 2025
- 10:00am - 5:30pm daily (NZT)
- Sun 14, Mon 15, Wed 17, Thu 18 September 2025
- 3:00pm - 10.30pm daily (PST time)