EFFT — EFT for Families

EFFT: Emotionally Focused Family Therapy in Bozeman, MT

Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) is the family adaptation of Emotionally Focused Therapy — a structured, attachment-based model that helps families identify the cycle driving their conflict and rebuild a secure bond. We offer EFFT in person in downtown Bozeman and by secure telehealth anywhere in Montana, for families with young children, teens, or adult children.

Get StartedCall (406) 580-8082

EFFT at a glance

  • What it is: The family adaptation of Emotionally Focused Therapy, rooted in attachment science.
  • Best for: Parent-child conflict, teen disconnection, blended and step-family adjustment, sibling conflict, and foster or adoptive family attachment.
  • Approach: Attachment-based and emotion-focused, working with the whole family system.
  • Where: In person in Bozeman; secure telehealth across Montana.
  • Who attends: Parents and caregivers, children, teens, or the whole family — it varies by session and by goal.
  • Ages served: Young children through adult children and their parents.
  • Cost: $200–$250 per 60-minute session, private pay. In-network with several carriers; Superbills available for out-of-network plans.

What is Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT)?

Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) is a research-backed, attachment-based approach that helps families understand and transform negative interaction patterns. By exploring the emotional underpinnings of family dynamics, EFFT creates a safe space where every member can express their needs, heal relational wounds, and build stronger, more secure bonds. It applies the same attachment- and emotion-focused principles that make Emotionally Focused Therapy effective for couples to the relationships within a family.

EFFT helps families move from conflict and distance back to warmth and secure connection.

Two different therapies share the EFFT acronym

You may see “EFFT” used for two different approaches. Emotionally Focused Family Therapy — the model we practice — comes from Dr. Sue Johnson’s Emotionally Focused Therapy and the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT). It is attachment-based and works with the whole family system.

Emotion-Focused Family Therapy, developed by Dr. Adele Lafrance, is a related but distinct caregiver-coaching model most often used in eating disorder treatment.

Our clinicians are trained through ICEEFT in the Emotionally Focused model.

How can EFFT help your family?

Families face many challenges, from childhood behavioral struggles to teen emotional regulation and parent-child relationship difficulties. EFFT can help your family by:

  • Improving parent-child relationships and helping caregivers meet a child's emotional needs in ways that foster security and trust
  • Breaking negative communication patterns and replacing conflict with understanding
  • Helping children and teens express emotions and feel heard and supported
  • Supporting families through transitions such as divorce, blended-family adjustments, loss, and adolescence
  • Addressing behavioral and emotional challenges such as anxiety, depression, emotional outbursts, and trauma-related struggles
  • Fostering emotional security and strengthening the foundation of support within the family

What can EFFT help with?

Parent-child disconnection

When a child or teen has pulled away, or when a parent feels shut out, EFFT works on the emotional need underneath the distance rather than the behavior on the surface.

Parent-teen conflict

Recurring arguments that escalate the same way every time usually run on a cycle. EFFT slows the cycle down so both people can say what they actually need.

Blended and step-family adjustment

New households ask children to build relationships they did not choose, on someone else’s timeline. EFFT gives that process structure and pace, and helps step-parents, biological parents, and children build shared expectations.

Sibling conflict

Persistent conflict between siblings is often about position and security within the family, not about the fight itself.

Foster and adoptive families

Children who have experienced disruption or loss bring survival strategies into a safe home. EFFT supports the long work of helping a child come to believe this placement is different.

Co-parenting after separation or divorce

We work with co-parents together or separately to reduce the conflict the children are carrying between two households.

Anxiety, big emotions, and behavior at home

When a child’s anxiety or outbursts are affecting the whole household, EFFT helps caregivers respond in ways that build security instead of escalating.

What is our approach to EFFT?

EFFT focuses on the emotional bonds that hold a family together. Rather than treating one family member as the problem, we look at the cycles of disconnection and protest that leave everyone hurting, and we help caregivers become a source of security and comfort for their children. Within a structured, attachment-based framework, we help families soften conflict, repair ruptures, and create new patterns of warmth, responsiveness, and trust. EFFT is beneficial for families of all ages and structures, whether you are rebuilding trust, improving daily interactions, or navigating a major transition.

What can you expect in EFFT?

EFFT is structured yet deeply relational. Together we identify the emotional patterns keeping the family stuck, help each member feel safe enough to share what is underneath their reactions, and guide caregivers in responding to their children's emotional needs. Families often begin to communicate more openly, repair after conflict more quickly, and feel a renewed sense of closeness. The goal is a family system where every member feels seen, supported, and securely connected.

Is EFFT right for my family?

EFFT may be a good fit if your family is struggling with conflict, disconnection, or communication breakdowns, supporting a child or teen through anxiety, big emotions, or behavioral challenges, or navigating a major transition. It can also help families who are doing well overall but want to strengthen their bonds and build a more secure foundation. You do not need to be in crisis for EFFT to be valuable.

Do you offer online EFFT in Montana?

Yes. We offer EFFT in person in Bozeman and through virtual family therapy statewide, serving families in Billings, Missoula, Helena, Great Falls, and rural communities. Virtual EFFT lets all family members participate, even from different locations, provides access to expert family therapists from home, and removes travel and scheduling barriers while maintaining the same quality of care.

Not sure EFFT is the right starting point?

EFFT is one specific attachment-based model. If you are looking for the broader service rather than a named approach, our family therapy in Bozeman page covers who we work with, what sessions look like, cost and insurance, and how to begin.

What to expect when you start

A warm first session

We start by getting to know you and what brings you in — no pressure to have it all figured out.

A plan that fits you

Together we shape an approach around your goals, your pace, and what actually helps.

Steady, real support

Ongoing sessions help you work with the patterns underneath the distress and notice real change.

Who provides EFFT at our practice

Our clinicians train in Emotionally Focused Therapy through ICEEFT, having completed the Externship and, for most, Core Skills. Sarah Loux, LCPC and Cindy Poulsen, LCSW are working toward full ICEEFT certification.

Family and child work at our practice is led by clinicians with dedicated training in child, adolescent, and family systems:

Meet our EFT-trained clinicians →

Serving families across the Gallatin Valley and Montana

Our office is at 321 E Main St, Suite 418, Bozeman, MT 59715, in downtown Bozeman. Families travel to us from Belgrade, Four Corners, Manhattan, Three Forks, Gallatin Gateway, Livingston, and Big Sky.

We also offer secure telehealth EFFT to families anywhere in Montana, including Billings, Missoula, Helena, Great Falls, and Butte — which can be easier for families split across two households or with a member away at college.

Call (406) 580-8082 or request an appointment online.

Looking for more specific support?

EFFT works alongside our other family and EFT services. One of these pages may also help.

Family therapy in BozemanEFT couples therapy in BozemanEFiT individual therapy in BozemanChild therapy for ages 3–12Teen therapy in BozemanAttachment-based therapy in BozemanTherapy costs and insuranceOnline therapy across Montana

Our Expertise

Specialized training in Emotionally Focused Therapy

Bozeman Therapy & Counseling is an EFT-focused practice. Our clinicians pursue advanced training in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) — the leading evidence-based, attachment-based model developed by Dr. Sue Johnson for strengthening connection in couples, individuals, and families. That shared foundation means consistent, research-backed care across our entire team.

Meet our EFT-trained clinicians →

Frequently asked questions about EFFT in Bozeman

What does EFFT stand for?

EFFT stands for Emotionally Focused Family Therapy, the family adaptation of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). It applies attachment- and emotion-focused principles to family relationships.

How is EFFT different from general family therapy?

EFFT is a specific, structured, attachment-based model with defined stages. General family therapy is a broader category that can include structural, strategic, and systemic approaches. If you want the broader overview, see our Family Therapy page.

Who participates in EFFT sessions?

Sessions may include parents, children, teens, or the whole family, depending on your goals. We often work closely with caregivers to strengthen their role as a source of security, and not every session includes every person.

Can EFFT help with a child or teen's behavior?

Yes. EFFT helps families understand the emotions underneath behavior and helps caregivers respond in ways that build security, which often eases conflict and behavioral struggles.

Do you offer online EFFT in Montana?

Yes. We offer EFFT online for families anywhere in Montana, including Billings, Missoula, Helena, Great Falls, and Butte. Online sessions can let family members join from different locations, which helps when a family is split across two households or has a member away at college.

Is EFFT the same as Emotion-Focused Family Therapy?

Not quite. Emotionally Focused Family Therapy comes from Dr. Sue Johnson’s Emotionally Focused Therapy model and the ICEEFT tradition, and is attachment-based and systemic. Emotion-Focused Family Therapy, developed by Dr. Adele Lafrance, is a related but distinct caregiver-coaching model most often used in eating disorder treatment. Our clinicians are trained in the Emotionally Focused model through ICEEFT.

What ages does EFFT work with?

EFFT works with families of young children, school-age children, teenagers, and adult children and their parents. The approach adapts to the developmental stage of the child involved.

Does everyone in the family have to attend EFFT?

No. Sometimes we meet with everyone, sometimes with a parent pair, sometimes with a parent and one child. Meaningful change in a family system often starts with whoever is willing to come in first.

Do you offer EFFT for blended and step-families in Bozeman?

Yes. Blended-family work is one of the most common reasons families come to us. We help step-parents, biological parents, and children build shared expectations and new relationships at a pace that respects everyone’s history.

Do you work with foster and adoptive families?

Yes. Children who have experienced disruption or loss often bring survival strategies into a safe home. We work with foster and adoptive families in Bozeman on attachment, trust, and the long work of helping a child come to believe this placement is different.

Is EFFT covered by insurance?

Coverage depends on your plan, provider, and clinical reason for care. Some plans cover family involvement when it is part of treatment for a covered mental health concern. We are in-network with several carriers, and for out-of-network plans we provide a Superbill you may be able to submit for reimbursement. We recommend verifying benefits directly with your insurer, and we can help review them before your first session.

How much does EFFT cost in Bozeman?

Our private-pay rates are $200 to $250 per 60-minute session and vary by clinician. If you are using insurance, your out-of-pocket cost depends on your deductible, copay, coinsurance, and whether your clinician is in-network. Sliding-scale and reduced-fee options are available when availability allows, and you may request a Good Faith Estimate before beginning care. See our Insurance and Fees page for current details.

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Beginning therapy can feel vulnerable. We aim to make the process clear and welcoming. Whether you are looking for support for yourself, your relationship, your child, your teen, or your family, we are here to help you take the next step.

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