The Leading Edge in Emotionally Focused Therapy 115. Play It! Capturing the Moment, Discerning When to Use Shifts, With Here-and-Now Emotion and Longings.
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.
This podcast episode focuses on the critical concept of "timing" in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), specifically when and how therapists should "play it" during therapeutic sessions. Hosts Dr. James Hawkins and Dr. Ryan Reyna discuss the importance of recognizing and responding to vulnerable emotions and caregiving moments in couples therapy. Main Points:
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Key Ingredients of a Secure Bond
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Vulnerable, live emotion
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Accessible, responsive, and engaged (ARE) caregiving system
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Timing Considerations
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Earlier in therapy: Play moments quickly (less room for vulnerability)
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Later in therapy: More space to let emotions develop
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Clinical decision-making about when to intervene
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Critical Moments to "Play It"
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When vulnerable emotion emerges
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When a caregiving response is present
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Before the moment passes or the cycle interrupts vulnerability
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Risks of Not Playing the Moment
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Clients may exit the vulnerable space
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Emotional opportunities can be lost
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Cycle of interaction can revert to negative patterns
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Practical Advice
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Catch and recognize emotional moments
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Make clinical decisions about intervention
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Prioritize creating space for emotional connection
The episode includes a role-play demonstration illustrating these principles, emphasizing the importance of therapist attunement and timely intervention.
Upcoming events, if you would like to train with James or Ryan…
- You can do a joint Core Skills (Colorado) with Lisa J. Palmer-Olsen & Dr. James Hawkins. Core Skills Modules 1 and 2 will be held October 8-10, 2025, and Core Skills Modules 3 and 4 will be held January 7-9, 2026. You can register at https://courses.efft.org/courses/2025-core-skills-colorado.
- October 15-18, 2025, you can do an Externship with James in beautiful Bend, Oregon. You can register at https://www.counseloregon.com.
- You can train with Ryan, as well as George Faller, doing a live and some time with James, at the annual Arkansas EFT Center externship. July 29-August 1, 2025, in person, in Fayetteville, Arkansas. https://www.arkansaseft.com/events/externship
- We would like to invite everyone to come hang out and learn with the SV team at the first-ever SV Focus Lab. This is an advanced, EFCT training intending to push the edge with a focus on nuance in application, illuminating EFT and Sue’s incredible model.”
- You can learn more and register by going to https://www.svfocuslab.com. Leading edge listeners who register before July 1 with the code svfocuslab.com/leadingedge get a 10% discount.
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)—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
- George Faller: Visit georgefaller.com
If you like the concepts discussed on this podcast you can explore our online training program, Success in Vulnerability (SV).
Thank you for being part of our community. Let's push the leading edge together!