Emotionally focused therapy / EFT-A11-1
Cycle and External Stress — Concept brief
Understand the idea behind cycle and external stress and consider whether it fits your context.
8 minutes · Handout · Adults; supported use as appropriate
Fictional example: A changing shift schedule leaves Alex and Sam with less predictable time together.
Use an ordinary or fictional example, with a clinician when appropriate. External pressures can intensify the relational loop.
The idea
External pressures can intensify the relational loop.
An ordinary example
A changing shift schedule leaves Alex and Sam with less predictable time together.
What this can look like
Add work, racism, disability access, money, or caregiving pressures to the cycle map without using them to excuse harm.
Check the fit
Which pressure needs practical support alongside relational work? 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?
- Which pressure needs practical support alongside relational work?
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.