EFTA Conversation: Working with/in Vulnerable Emotions in Couple and Family Therapy

With Kyriaki Polychroni

Chairperson: Joana Sequeira

Systemic epistemology and psychotherapy have revolutionized the field over decades. It has become common practice to not view “Anthropos” (Greek for the “whole human being”, both male and female) in a long-term exploration of unconscious drives, or a focus on an individual’s internal thoughts and behaviours, but rather to emphasize the interconnectedness of group and family members and how their interactional patterns and roles influence the wellbeing of those seeking our services.

More recent advances in neuroscience research show that attachment – a wired-in human need to connect – is the biological, emotion regulation-based system guiding cognitive and emotional processes with respect to intimate and significant relationships. Emotion is what colors our world and is the ‘music of the dance’ we do with others.
As systemic therapists we need to take on board the perspective of attachment theory and integrate experiential interventions to work with and within deep vulnerable emotions and so de-escalate negative interactional patterns and foster new bonding events that increase the security between partners and families – interventions that stress the primary significance of emotion and emotional communication in the organization of the reciprocally determining system of responses that constitute an attachment relationship.

Kyriaki Polychroni is a Psychologist (MA, CGP, LMFT), Systemic Psychotherapist, Supervisor and Trainer with specialization in Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples and Families (ECFT / EFFT). She is a long-standing clinician, faculty and Advisory Scientific Council member at the Athenian Institute of Anthropos in Greece. She is the Founder and Coordinator of the EFT Greek Network and was recently selected as a member of the Board of Directors of the International Center for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT). Kyriaki is a Past President of the European Family Therapy Association – EFTA – and has played a major role in the networking and mutual learning of Family Therapy Trainers in Europe. In 2016 she was given an Award for her Outstanding Contribution to Family Therapists in Europe and was appointed Honorary Chair of the EFTA Chamber of Training Institutes (EFTA-TIC). Former Vice-President of the national branch of the European Association of Psychotherapists (EAP). Founding Member of the Hellenic Association of Systemic Therapy (ELESYTH). She is also a Founding Member of the American National Registry of Certified Group Psychotherapists (CGP) and a Clinical Member of the American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA).
 

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