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Psychologists
Practitioners with a higher education degree in psychology.
BALENTEIN
ICEEFT International Program
Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy
Emotionally Focused Therapy — EFT
The first Russian-language international ICEEFT educational program training therapists in Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy — designed for family, marital and couples therapists and counselling psychologists.
BALENTEIN × ICEEFT
Format
Online
Live interpretation into Russian
Dates
13–15, 18 and 21–22 January 2027
Time
15:00–20:00 CET
Who can apply
Who can take the program
Practitioners and students whose professional training meets at least one of the following criteria are eligible to apply.
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Psychology students
Students currently enrolled in a higher-education psychology program.
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Related-field specialists
Specialists with a higher degree in medicine, education or sociology who have completed a professional retraining program in psychological counselling lasting at least two years.
Eligibility can be confirmed with your degree certificate or professional retraining diploma.
Training path
The EFT training and certification pathway
1
EFT Externship
An introduction to the EFT model, the logic of the therapeutic process, and core interventions.
2
EFT Core Skills
Hands-on skill practice through the Core Skills 1/2 and Core Skills 3/4 modules.
3
Supervision
Case consultation and clinical skill development guided by certified EFT specialists.
4
ICEEFT Certification
Clinical case analysis and submission of your portfolio to ICEEFT.
About the method
About Emotionally Focused Therapy
Emotionally Focused Therapy is an evidence-based approach developed by Dr. Sue Johnson in the 1980s. The method is grounded in attachment theory and treats emotional connection as the foundation of stable, secure relationships.
Today, EFT is used in work with couples, families and individuals. The approach has expanded into EFIT — Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy — and EFFT — Emotionally Focused Family Therapy.
Learn more about the method
“Connection, not conflict resolution, is what heals.”
Curriculum
What the training covers
01
Foundations of the method
Attachment theory, humanistic and systemic lenses, and the core principles and change processes.
02
De-escalating conflict
Helping couples recognise negative interaction cycles and gradually step out of them.
03
Therapist stance
Building therapeutic alliance, safety, and emotional attunement with clients.
04
Map of the therapeutic process
The three stages and nine steps of Emotionally Focused Therapy.
05
Restructuring emotional bonds
Creating a safe space for clients to surface emotional needs and discover new ways of making contact.
06
The EFT Tango
The core intervention system used across stages and EFT formats.
Why EFT
Why practitioners choose EFT
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Evidence-based
The method is supported by extensive research.
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Versatile
Applied in work with couples, families and individuals.
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Flexible
The model adapts to the unique needs of each client and couple.
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Effective
The approach targets recurring emotional and behavioural cycles.
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Structured
A clear process map helps the therapist stay oriented throughout the work.
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Emotional connection
The work focuses on building secure attachment and a more stable bond.
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Lasting change
Therapy aims for durable shifts in how partners interact emotionally.
Lead trainer
Zoya Simakhodskaya, PhD
Clinical psychologist, EFT supervisor and trainer
A clinical psychologist and crisis-intervention specialist, Zoya is a certified EFT supervisor and trainer with the International Centre of Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT). She serves as Vice President of the Board and Chair of the Education Committee at the New York Centre for Emotionally Focused Therapy.
Outcomes
What EFT brings to your practice
The training helps practitioners build a clear map of the therapeutic process, sharpen their skills in working with couples' emotional cycles, and hold their therapeutic stance with greater confidence.
Research outcomes
Studies show that 70–75% of couples move from distress to a more secure attachment as a result of therapy, and nearly 90% maintain their gains over time.
International certificate
Upon completion, participants receive an international ICEEFT certificate from the International Centre of Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy.
Program modules
Training modules
Foundational level
EFT Externship
Apply for EFT ExternshipAdvanced level
EFT Core Skills 1/2
Learn moreAdvanced level