Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) Practice Exam

Which therapy focuses on accessing primary emotions to alter negative interactions in relationships?

1. Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy

2. Structural Therapy

3. Experiential Therapy

4. Contextual Therapy

The correct answer is: Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy

Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT) is centered on the premise that primary emotions play a crucial role in shaping individuals' interactions within their relationships. Emotionally focused therapists work with couples to identify and articulate their emotions, which are often more primal and vulnerable than secondary emotions like anger or frustration. By helping partners connect with these fundamental emotions, EFT aims to shift negative relational patterns and enhance emotional responsiveness. In EFT, the therapist facilitates an environment where couples can explore their emotional experiences and communicate them to one another, which can lead to a more secure attachment. Essentially, accessing these primary emotions allows partners to understand each other's vulnerabilities and needs, thus enabling them to break free from negative cycles of interaction. The other forms of therapy mentioned, while useful in their own contexts, do not primarily focus on evolving emotional connections through the lens of primary emotions. Structural therapy emphasizes the organization and structure of family roles and hierarchies rather than emotional expression. Experiential therapy is broader and involves various experiential techniques but is not specifically aimed at altering emotional patterns in relationships as EFT is. Contextual therapy focuses on the ethical dimensions and relational context of family dynamics, rather than primarily targeting emotional access as a means to improvement.