Licensed Telehealth Psychologist for Maryland & Washington, DC
Call Dr. Gloria Vanderhorst at (301) 578-8760 to schedule your MD & DC telehealth session.
If you’re seeking Emotion Focused Therapy in Maryland and Washington, DC, I offer secure, online sessions to help individuals and couples process emotional pain, rebuild trust, and create deeper connection. I’m Dr. Gloria Vanderhorst, a licensed psychologist with over 30 years of experience using EFT to support emotional healing and relational growth.
EFT is a structured, evidence-based model that helps clients identify, understand, and transform emotional experiences. Grounded in attachment theory and neuroscience, EFT is especially effective for those navigating relationship distress, trauma, or emotional disconnection.
What Is Emotion Focused Therapy?
Developed by Dr. Sue Johnson and Dr. Leslie Greenberg in the 1980s, EFT is based on the idea that emotions are not just reactions, they are organizing forces in our lives. When we feel emotionally disconnected, unsafe, or unseen, we often develop protective patterns that block intimacy and self-awareness.
EFT helps clients:
- Identify and express core emotional needs
- Heal attachment wounds and relational injuries
- Disrupt negative interaction cycles
- Build emotional responsiveness and secure connection
- Transform emotional pain into clarity, compassion, and connection
EFT is used in both individual and couples therapy. It is especially effective for clients who want to move beyond surface-level communication and create lasting emotional change. I offer emotion focused therapy in Maryland and DC to help clients deepen self-awareness and strengthen emotional resilience.
The Three Stages of Emotion Focused Therapy
De-escalation
The therapist helps the couple identify their negative interaction cycle, such as criticism and withdrawal, and reframes it as a pattern driven by unmet emotional needs. This stage builds safety and insight by helping each partner recognize how their behaviors are shaped by fear, longing, or disconnection.
Restructuring Interactions
Partners begin to access and express vulnerable emotions, such as fear of abandonment or longing for reassurance. They learn to share these feelings in ways that invite empathy and responsiveness. This stage fosters new emotional experiences that strengthen the bond and create a secure base for connection.
Consolidation and Integration
The couple practices new patterns of interaction, reinforcing emotional responsiveness and trust. Together, they develop tools to navigate future challenges with openness and mutual support. Emotion Focused Therapy in Maryland and Washington, DC supports healing by exploring the emotional roots of distress.
This structured process helps couples move from conflict and isolation to emotional attunement, intimacy, and resilience
My approach to Emotion Focused Therapy in Maryland is grounded in empathy, insight, and evidence-based care. EFT focuses on the belief that emotions are central to psychological health. In therapy, we work together to:
- Identify and make sense of primary emotions and unmet attachment needs
- Process suppressed or painful emotional experiences
- Heal emotional injuries that impact trust and closeness
- Interrupt negative relational cycles and promote secure bonding
- Develop new, supportive ways to connect with yourself and others
This approach supports individuals seeking emotional clarity, as well as couples and families working to strengthen their relationships. Whether you’re new to therapy or continuing care, my resources can help you stay grounded and informed.
EFT is particularly effective in navigating relational distress, trauma, and attachment-based challenges.
- Couples therapy for disconnection, infidelity, or communication breakdowns
- Family therapy to repair strained parent-child relationships
- Individual therapy (EFIT) for anxiety, depression, trauma, or attachment wounds
For these therapies, I offer Emotion Focused Therapy in Maryland and Washington, DC.
- Emotional withdrawal or avoidance
- Repetitive arguments or unresolved conflict
- Trust issues or betrayal
- Difficulty expressing needs or emotions
- Feeling “stuck” in negative cycles
- Greater emotional self-awareness and regulation
- More secure, connected relationships
- Reduced symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress
- Improved communication and conflict resolution
- Enhanced self-compassion and emotional strength
I offer secure, HIPAA-compliant online Emotion Focused Therapy in Maryland and Washington, DC throughout:
- Bethesda
- Chevy Chase
- Silver Spring
- Rockville
- Capitol Hill
- Northwest DC and surrounding areas
Virtual therapy allows you to access care from the comfort and privacy of your own space, with flexible scheduling designed for your life.
Clients seeking online therapy in Maryland and DC can explore this overview of virtual therapy services to understand what to expect.
Get Started With Emotion Focused Therapy in Maryland and Washington, DC
Curious about how IFS or EFT might support you or your relationship? I offer online therapy for adults, couples, and families across Maryland and Washington, DC.
My Approach
Curious about how IFS or EFT might support you or your relationship? I offer online therapy for adults, couples, and families across Maryland and Washington, DC.