Emotionally focused therapy / EFT-A05-1
Slowing the Cycle — Concept brief
Understand the idea behind slowing the cycle and consider whether it fits your context.
8 minutes · Handout · Adults; supported use as appropriate
Fictional example: Alex and Sam notice faster speech before a discussion about chores escalates.
Use an ordinary or fictional example, with a clinician when appropriate. A pause can create room to notice the cycle before escalating it.
The idea
A pause can create room to notice the cycle before escalating it.
An ordinary example
Alex and Sam notice faster speech before a discussion about chores escalates.
What this can look like
Identify an early sign of an ordinary loop and agree on a pause with a clear return plan.
Check the fit
What would make a pause feel like care rather than disappearance? You may disagree with the framing, use fiction, or decide that this approach is not useful today.
A useful distinction
An interaction cycle is a relational map, not a way to split responsibility equally for abuse or excuse harmful behavior.
Prompts for this resource
- What part of this idea makes sense to me?
- What would make a pause feel like care rather than disappearance?
Conceptual background
What is EFT? — International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy
Background on the approach only. Original exercises and wording are by More Than Therapy with AI assistance; the source does not validate or endorse these materials.