EFT For Groups
Syllabus
Emotion-Focused Group Psychotherapy
Offered by Dr. Sarah Thompson and Dr. Laura Girz
When offered virtually through Transforming Emotions, this course typically includes 24 hours of scheduled time (including lunch breaks). For in-person trainings, curriculum may be varied to meet regional needs.
This training is aimed at clinicians who are very comfortable providing individual experiential therapy and are seeking to be able to facilitate group therapy processes involving a combination of individual and group therapy segments. Our hope is that, by the end of the training, assuming that you already feel comfortable with EFT or another experiential modality as an individual therapist, you will feel confident to launch your own experiential therapy group!
Video recording: Please note that we record all didactic segments of this training. This will then be accessible, for a period of time, to participants who miss a segment, or wish to review.
Readings: One required article, and a reading list of optional materials will be provided following payment and registration.
A typically curriculum includes the following:
Day 1
Lecture:
- Why Group Therapy?
- Brief Overview of Emotion Theory
- Review of Group Process Literature
Experiential:
- Participant selection and group intake (video)
- Structuring the first group (experiential)
Day 2
Lecture:
- Review of EFT’s Critic Split Task and Unfinished Business Task, for group settings.
Experiential:
- Demonstration group including live chairwork, led by the trainers.
Day 3
Lecture:
- Group Interpersonal Psychotherapy Theory Overview
- EFT Group Process Interventions
Experiential:
- Demonstration group including live chairwork, led by the trainers.
Day 4
Lecture:
- Bringing it all together: Group model and trouble-shooting
- Review of EFT group outcome data
Experiential:
- Structuring your final group (experiential)
- Final small group break-outs and good-byes
Closing discussion and evaluation
Trainers: Dr. Sarah Thompson & Dr. Laura Girz
“In terms of sheer professionalism, learning objectives, pacing, content, and delivery, this is one of the most valuable and well-thought-out trainings I have attended. This richly immersive, experiential training combines the clarity and effectiveness of EFT emotion theory and task work, with the transformational power and connection offered by group processing. It is delivered in a spirit of warmth and inclusivity. Our team left this comprehensive and inspirational training with increased confidence in our ability to meet our clients’ needs through delivery of our group EFT programme.”
Dr James McElvaney,
Chartered Senior Counselling Psychologist and Clinical Lead: Group Emotion-focused-Therapy for Young Adults.St Patrick’s Mental Health Services, Dublin, Ireland.
This training will focus on the following key areas:
- process-oriented group theory and group facilitation skills,
- overview of emotion-theory and key EFT tasks with a discussion of generalizability to other experiential modalities,
- participant selection, client intake processes, and creation of group guidelines,
- how to run a first, middle, and final group session,
- trouble-shooting common stuck points,
- tips for running online groups.
Note: This training does not focus specifically on teaching individual therapy techniques. The focus will be structuring a group psychotherapy experience and effectively utilizing individual therapy techniques within a group setting. Prior knowledge of an individual psychotherapy modality is required.
Time & Dates
Stay tuned for details regarding trainings in 2026
Please contact us at welcome@transformingemotions.ca to be added to our mailing list for future training dates in the Eastern time zone, or to request a specialized in-person training for your team.
Fees:
Fees for Emotion-Focused Group Training Offered Through Transforming Emotions:
Early Bird Fees: $1,200 (CAN) if registering on or before the early bird deadline – to be determined.
Regular Fees: $1,400 (CAD)
All fees include a $250 non-refundable deposit. Installment plans may be requested in writing.
If you identify as Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Colour, or if you are an early career practitioner within two years of graduation, we have a select number of sliding scale spaces available.
Please note that we offer a limited number of sliding scale training spaces to those who identify as being in financial need and who meet one of the following criteria: are registered as a student in a degree-granting institution (25% fee reduction); have graduated within two years of the start date of the training (25% fee reduction); self-identify as Black, Indigenous, or as a member of a racialized minority community (25% fee reduction); negotiable fees for individuals residing in a country where the currency is valued much lower than Canadian dollars. If you may qualify for a sliding scale fee, please inquire to welcome@transformingemotions.ca for availability of spaces.
Enrollment will be limited to 32 individuals.
TO BE ADDED TO OUR EMAIL LIST FOR FUTURE TRAINING, PLEASE EMAIL YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION TO: welcome@transformingemotions.ca