Podcast Summary
Podcast: The Leading Edge in Emotionally Focused Therapy
Episode: 98. The New EFT Certification Process
Hosts: Dr. James Hawkins (C), Dr. Ryan Rana (A)
Date: October 2, 2024
Overview: Main Theme and Purpose
This episode takes a comprehensive look at the newly updated certification process for Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), a shift that represents a significant departure from traditional procedures. Responding to frequent listener requests—especially from North Texas—the hosts break down the motivations, technical changes, and practicalities of the new process, centering the discussion on the couple's therapy modality. The episode is designed to demystify the changes, highlight both advantages and challenges, and offer guidance to therapists and supervisors navigating these developments.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Shift in Certification: From Canada to Supervisors
- Old System: For 20 years, EFT certification required sending session tapes to a small group of reviewers in Canada.
- “For...20 years or whatever it was to certify in EFT, you had to send your tapes into Canada. And there was only two people.”—Ryan (03:18)
- New System: Empowers local supervisors as primary gatekeepers of the certification process, increasing access, speed, and cultural relevance.
- “This new certification model really empowers the supervisors to be gatekeepers...that’s a really big shift.”—Ryan (03:39)
- Supervisors now approve candidates to move forward, with trainers providing feedback but not holding veto power.
2. Rationale and Motivations for Change
- The new process aims to:
- Elevate the role and career path of supervisors.
- Foster cultural safety by allowing regional/contextual supervision.
- Reduce bottlenecks and long wait times.
- Make certification more "approachable" and less intimidating.
- Support therapists from diverse identity backgrounds.
- “It helps...to have a supervisor who is in their context regionally...maybe come from the community of identity, social identity factors that they come from that helps them feel a little bit safer in sharing their work or language.”—James (05:54)
3. The Structure of EFT Certification: Three Modalities
- EFT is one model delivered in three modalities: Couples, Individuals, and Families.
- Each has a unique pathway involving core trainings:
- Couples: Externship (24+ hrs)
- Individuals (EFIT) & Families (EFFT): Essentials Class (24 hrs), with additional specialized training
- After foundational training, therapists proceed to mastery-level training and then to supervision.
- Each has a unique pathway involving core trainings:
4. Supervision: The Heart of Certification
- Minimum 8 hours of supervision per modality.
- Supervision is intended to help therapists improve rather than simply pass an assessment.
- Key Insight: Explicit communication of certification goals with supervisors is crucial.
- Quote: “If you want to certify...put that up into first. Not in a pressure standpoint, but like, what we're selecting, who we're looking forward to, video...because getting the right couple is a big deal.”—Ryan (12:03)
- When therapists are not clear with supervisors about wanting certification, they tend to not progress toward it.
5. Certification Process: Step-by-Step (Focusing on Couples)
- Demonstrate skills in both stage one and stage two work: Supervisors review and approve.
- Submit one video (stage one or stage two) to ISF via a secure platform (Hightail).
- A trainer provides written feedback.
- Supervisor makes the final certification decision, even in cases where trainer feedback is mixed.
- New flexibility: Core Skills training now available in some places as a condensed 24-hour option (traditionally 48 hours).
6. Application to Individuals and Families
- Process is essentially the same as couples:
- Supervisors review “patterns and positions” (stage one and two equivalents).
- Submission of tapes, review, and feedback.
7. What Supervisors Look For in Certification Tapes
- Three Key Categories:
- Alliance Skills: Ability to attune and work with live emotional experience.
- Micro Skills: Use of EFT interventions (reflection, validation, conjecture, handling reactivity).
- Macro/Tango Skills: Demonstration of at least three moves in the EFT Tango (the sequence of change events in EFT).
- “Certification tapes are really looking for at least three of the tango moves...obviously we’d love to see a full tango, but it’s not necessary.”—Ryan (26:52)
- Clear enactment—helping clients move from emotion to action, particularly in attachment dynamics.
8. The Purpose and Value of Certification
- Improves clinical skills—“I’ve never had someone certify, never, who didn’t turn around and say I’m a better therapist the next week.”—Ryan (13:07)
- Supervisors as lifelong mentors; certification seen as an initiation but not an endpoint.
- Certification gives therapists visibility and credibility globally through ISF’s public directory.
9. Supporting Supervisors and Resources
- Supervisors new to this expanded role are encouraged to seek peer and trainer support.
- “You don’t have to be out there on an island by yourself...reach out and get support”—Ryan (31:16)
- Resources mentioned—for therapists and supervisors:
- ISF website (with up-to-date certification requirements and global directory)
- Supervisors Collaborative (monthly group for support)
- Success in Vulnerability, “Let’s Get Certified” session (2-hour free SV Live by Dr. Chad Imhoff)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On the Shift to Supervisor-Led Certification:
- “This new certification model really empowers the supervisors to be gatekeepers...and that’s a really big shift.”—Ryan (03:39)
- On Supervisory Diversity & Context:
- “Helps...to have a supervisor who is in their context regionally...helps them feel a little bit safer in sharing their work or language.”—James (05:54)
- On Certification Improving Therapy:
- “I’ve never had someone certify, never, who didn’t turn around and say I’m a better therapist the next week.”—Ryan (13:07)
- On Vulnerability in Certification:
- “They’re opening themselves up vulnerably to let their supervisors watch their work...for them to get feedback. And the thing I kept hearing from people was the process was beneficial for them.”—James (29:00)
- “When I got my certification certificate...I really proved I’m a good therapist here and not just a good therapy student.”—James (29:20)
- Encouragement to Supervisors:
- “There’s a few supervisors...like, I don’t know if I’m ready for this...that’s normal...reach out and get support.”—Ryan (31:12)
- On the Certification Standard:
- “Certification tapes are really looking for at least three of the tango moves...obviously we’d love to see a full tango, but it’s not necessary.”—Ryan (26:52)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 00:10–03:39: Background, gratitude, introduction to new certification process, and shift from Canada to supervisor authority
- 05:00–06:31: Advantages of supervisor-led certification (speed, cultural/contextual safety)
- 06:40–09:29: Overview of the three modalities (couples, individuals, family); step-by-step through foundation and mastery levels
- 09:52–13:26: Role of supervision, importance of goal clarity, and benefits of certification for therapeutic development
- 13:37–16:19: Practical process for couples therapy certification, new technical changes (supervision, tape submission, trainer feedback)
- 16:19–18:57: Technical evolutions in training structure (24-hr vs 48-hr core skills)
- 20:11–21:34: Philosophy of certification—a process similar to language immersion, lifelong learning, mentorship
- 23:36–27:02: What supervisors look for in tapes—skills, tango moves, enactment
- 29:00–31:27: Value and vulnerability of the certification process, reassurance for supervisors
- 31:27–32:32: Mention of key resource links and support opportunities for supervisors and therapists
Additional Resources Mentioned
- ICEFT Website – Up-to-date requirements, resources, training, and directory
- Supervisors Collaborative (Lisa Palmer Olson, Marlene Best, Jim Furrow)
- [Success in Vulnerability: “Let’s Get Certified” – Dr. Chad Imhoff] – 2-hour free deep-dive session
Closing Tone
The episode is warm, encouraging, and practical, aimed at demystifying the new certification process for therapists and supporting supervisors stepping into their expanded roles. Both hosts express deep appreciation for practitioners doing the hard work of EFT, recognize the vulnerability inherent in pursuing certification, and frame the changes as a path toward broader accessibility, equity, and improved therapeutic impact.