Graduate students in the Marriage and Family Therapy program spent spring break in a four-day training on Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT), led by internationally recognized trainer Robin Williams Blake.
Hosted by the MFT program in collaboration with community partner Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Tampa Bay, the training ran March 16-19 and included graduate students, faculty and clinicians.
The immersive training focused on attachment-based approaches to trauma and individual therapy. EFIT continues to grow as an extension of Emotionally Focused Therapy, equipping therapists with tools to deepen emotional processing and foster secure attachment.
Olivia King, an MFT graduate student, shared these trainings are helping her feel more confident as a therapist. She stated that details given in the training demonstrations were impactful and a meaningful takeaway for her was how much trauma stays with people, and they subconsciously carry it.
“The EFIT training gave us tools on how to utilize these details, rather than leaving
the client helpless with them. I definitely think it was incredible to see people
be able to reshape the narrative about past trauma experiences and who they are,”
said King.
EFT Tampa Bay provided $23,270 in scholarships, enabling Olivia and 22 additional
MFT students and three faculty members to attend.
“As a graduate student, I don’t have extra money for opportunities like this, and I know that many of my classmates are in similar situations,” said King. “I think that’s what made this experience even more invaluable to us, getting this kind of training and education again for little or no cost”.
It means so much to me to deepen my knowledge and learn such useful skills so early on in my career and I’m only able to do so from the generosity of EFT Tampa Bay.
Olivia King, MFT graduate student
The partnership between the MFT program and EFT Tampa Bay reflects a commitment to expanding access to high-quality clinical training, supporting professional development, and strengthening the local EFT community.
“We look forward to continuing this collaboration with EFT Tampa Bay and providing future opportunities for students, faculty and clinicians to engage in cutting-edge, attachment-based training,” said Everette Coffman, PhD, assistant professor in the MFT program.
The four-day EFIT training welcomed 100 participants that included graduate students, faculty, and clinicians.