Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) in Denver

Families don't fall apart because people don't care. They fall apart because pain gets in the way of connection. Paul Wozniak, LPC, believes that when a teen or child is struggling, the whole family system is affected. Healing happens when families can reconnect around that pain rather than let it drive them apart.

Emotionally focused family therapy (EFFT) recognizes that parents aren't the problem—they're often doing their best while navigating hard emotions, confusing advice, and the terror of watching their child suffer.

Paul's parent skills training + therapeutic approach helps families move past blame and reactivity to rebuild the attachment and understanding that gets lost when mental illness or behavioral struggles take over.

What is EFFT?

EFFT is an evidence-based approach specifically designed for families with adolescents struggling with eating disorders, depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges. Unlike traditional family therapy that may focus on communication skills or problem-solving, EFFT zeroes in on the emotional barriers that prevent family members from connecting and supporting each other effectively.

We love this approach because it recognizes that parents often feel helpless, guilty, or angry when their child is suffering. These emotions can inadvertently create distance exactly when closeness is most needed.

EFFT helps family members identify and express the underlying emotions driving their reactions. Through structured sessions, Paul helps parents have the conversations they've been unable to have with their teens, moving past surface-level conflicts to address attachment needs and emotional pain.

The goal isn't to assign blame but to help families understand each other's experiences, validate each other's pain, and rebuild the secure emotional bonds that allow parents to effectively support their struggling child.

When families can connect emotionally again, they become the most powerful resource in their child's recovery.