Presents EFCT Externship
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Presented by: Dr. Paul Guillory, PhD
February 9-12, 2026
First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley, 2407 Dana Street, Berkeley, CA 94704
9 am to 5 pm
Transform Your Couples Therapy Practice with
Emotionally Focused Therapy!
DESCRIPTION:
Step into the world of Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT)—a groundbreaking, research-backed approach that transforms relationships and deepens emotional bonds. This immersive externship is your gateway to mastering the essential EFT framework, equipping you with the theory, clinical techniques, and interventions needed to help couples heal and thrive.
Developed by renowned psychologist Dr. Sue Johnson, EFT is a powerful, evidence-based model for understanding and reshaping love relationships. This externship is led by ICEEFT-certified trainer Dr. Paul Guillory, a dynamic and engaging expert in EFT. Dr. Guillory, author of the trailblazing book Emotionally Focused Therapy with African American Couples, is internationally recognized for weaving cultural and multicultural perspectives into EFT, ensuring a deeply inclusive and impactful learning experience.
Over four transformative days, you’ll engage in interactive lectures, role-plays, video demonstrations, and live consultations, immersing yourself in the EFT model. You’ll gain firsthand experience with the EFT Tango, master key interventions, and develop a deeper understanding of how attachment science informs effective couples therapy.
This externship isn’t just training—it’s the first step toward EFT certification and an opportunity to join a global movement of therapists who are reshaping the way couples connect. Whether you’re new to EFT or looking to refine your skills, this experience will expand your clinical toolkit and elevate your practice.
Join us and take the first step toward becoming an EFT-certified therapist—where science meets the art of love and connection!
What you should expect to learn in an “Externship”
● Participants will obtain a clear understanding of the basic experiential and systemic concepts of an “Emotionally Focused” approach to therapy.
● Participants will be able to view clients in the web of their interpersonal attachments and conceptualize relationship distress and repair based on theories of attachment and emotion.
● EFT is a relational therapy. The Externship will focus on the model of EFCT laid out in the 2019 book, Attachment Theory in Practice, and teach the model as implemented in couple therapy sessions.
● Participants will develop skills in sharing and maintaining an engaged, open and collaborative alliance with clients.
● Participants will obtain a clear understanding of multicultural extra stress and the Extra-C.A.R.E. model.
● Participants will develop skills in the 5 moves of the basic macro-intervention – the EFT Tango – to change patterns of affect regulation, models of self and other, strategies for engaging others and interactional patterns.
● Participants will develop skills in EFT micro interventions taken from experiential and attachment systemic models of intervention.
● Participants will develop skills in overcoming common blocks and impasses in couple therapy and so shape core corrective emotional experiences that lead to constructive dependency and what Rogers termed ‘existential living.’
PRESENTER:
Dr. Guillory is an Associate Professor at the University of California, Berkeley in the Clinical Science Program, Psychology Department. He has taught courses on Emotionally Focused Therapies at U.C. Berkeley. He is a certified trainer, supervisor, and therapist of Emotionally Focused Therapy. He is the author of “Emotionally Focused Therapy with African American Couples: Love Heals,” Routledge, August 2021. He has created several clinical online training video tapes that amplify integrating attachment & culture (www.paultguilloryphd.com).
Dr. Guillory has presented at several recent workshops including “Emotionally Focused Therapy in a time of Racial Reckoning” Couple & Family Institute of New England, Spring Symposium, “Race and Couples Therapy Conference,” Eikenberg Academy for Social Justice, July 2021, and “Deep Roots: Attachment & Culture, LA Center of EFT, November 2021, Attachment & Culture: Deep Roots, NCCEFT Annual 2-day Workshop, April 8 & 9, 2022, “Deep Roots: Attachment & Culture, APA 2022 workshop, Annual Convention. “Beyond Cultural Humility: breaking the legacy of race & culture in psychotherapy, workshop, APA 2023 Annual Convention.
He has conducted several EFT externships with a focus on training therapists who work with Black & Brown clients. He has also conducted EFT Externships and Core Skills in the USA, Uganda 2023, and Kenya 2024. He is the former chairperson of the Northern California Community of Emotionally Focused Therapy. With Denise Jones-Kazan has pursued a mission to increase the cultural diversity of NCCEFT membership & participation.
Dr. Guillory was the psychological consultant to the Oakland Raiders professional football team and the National Football League for 14 years. He has also been a consultant to the Sacramento Kings professional basketball team, and is a selected provider for the National Basketball Players Association. He served as Director of the Center for Family Counseling in Oakland California for ten years. He is a life-time member of the Association of Black Psychologists. And he is a life-time member of the USA Masters Track & Field Association. He has been in private practice in Oakland California for over 30 years.
AGENDA:
Day 1 AM
Registration and Check in
Introduction to Externship & Attachment Science as a Guide for Psychotherapy ― EFIT,
EFCT, EFFT
Basics of the EFT Model ― Experiential & Systemic
Day 1 PM
Overview of the process of change ― Stages and Steps
EFT Tango Across Modalities and Multicultural Extra-C.A.R.E. model
Exercise or video Clip & Discussion
Day 2 AM
Case Presentation: Live Session or Tape Review or Case Role-Play ― Discussion
Assessment in EFIT & EFCT
Alliance Building
Day 2 PM
Stage 1 ― Stabilization / De-escalation of Negative Cycles
Exercise or video Clip & Discussion
Day 3 AM
Case Presentation / Live Session or Tape Review / Discussion
Micro Interventions / RISSSC / Catch-the-Bullet / Building Attachment / Slice It Thinner
Day 3 PM
Stage 2 and Change Events
Exercise or video Clip & Discussion
Day 4 AM
EFIT ― Goals ― Tango ― Watch DVD Sessions
Forgiveness and Attachment Injuries in EFCT
Day 4 PM
Escalated Couples / Traumatized Individual Clients
Exercises or Video Clip & Discussion
Who is this training for?
All mental health professionals including psychiatrists, psychologists, family physicians, social workers, psychiatric nurses, counsellors (including couples and family therapists), pastors and clergy, and students training in these professions. School counsellors and occupational therapists are permitted to attend if they are licensed and belong to a professional body that has standards of practice for psychotherapy/counselling.
Life coaches are not permitted to attend unless they also meet one of the mental health professional categories listed above.
Prerequisites & Sequence:
EFCT Core Skills follows an Externship.
https://iceeft.com/emotionally-focused-couple-therapy-efct-coreskills/
Required Reading: The Practice of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy: Creating Connection, 3rd edition, by Susan M. Johnson, 2020. Routledge.
https://www.routledge.com/The-Practice-of-Emotionally-Focused-Couple-Therapy-Creating-Connection/Johnson/p/book/9780815348016
Recommended Readings:
Attachment Theory in Practice: Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) with Individuals,
Couples, and Families by Dr. Susan M. Johnson, 2019. Guilford Press.
https://www.guilford.com/books/Attachment-Theory-in-Practice/Susan-Johnson/9781462538249
Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist: The Workbook, 2nd edition, by James L. Furrow, Susan M. Johnson, Brent Bradley, Lorrie L. Brubacher, T. Leanne Campbell,
Veronica Kallos-Lilly, Gail Palmer, Kathryn Rheem, Scott R. Woolley,
2022. Routledge.
https://www.routledge.com/Becoming-an-Emotionally-Focused-Therapist-The-Workbook/Furrow-Johnson-Bradley-Brubacher-Campbell-Kallos-Lilly-Palmer-Rheem-Woolley/p/book/9780367483425?utm_source=society_association&utm_medium=shared_link&utm_campaign=B042037_gg1_5ll_6rm_t081_2pr_referrallink-iceeft
Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy with African American Couples: Love Heals, by Paul Guillory, PhD, 2021. Routledge.
https://www.routledge.com/Emotionally-Focused-Therapy-with-African-American-Couples/Guillory/p/book/9780367375737
COST:
General Registration
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$945 — Super Early Bird (by 9/30)
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$1,045 — Early Bird (10/1 to 11/30)
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$1,145 — Regular Rate (12/1 to 1/15, registration closes)
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$572.50 — Repeat Externship (4 days)
Military Registration
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$845 — Super Early Bird
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$945 — Early Bird
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$1,045 — Regular
Continuing Education (CE) credit is available for an additional $40 on any ticket type.
Scholarships:
A limited number of partial scholarships are offered by NCCEFT for individuals with financial need. Apply here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeKt5Pag5g1oXUR42xSoQo2AxicheBYupFsI1bAqh0ha81t0Q/viewform?usp=preview
Application Deadline: November 15, 2025
Applications received after the deadline may not be considered.
Selection Criteria: Scholarships will be awarded based on financial need, professional relevance, and commitment to attending the full program. Please provide thoughtful responses to the application questions; incomplete applications may not be considered.
Notification: Recipients will be notified by email by December 15, 2025.
Recipients will be notified by email. For questions about scholarships, contact Denise Jones-Kazan at djonkazan@gmail.com or Jennifer Brizuela at jennifer@brizuelatherapy.org
CONTINUING EDUCATION:
Alliant International University Lifelong Learning & Professional Development program is approved by:
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the American Psychological Association to Sponsor Continuing Education for psychologists. Alliant International University Maintains Sole Responsibility For This Program And Its Content.
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the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) to provide continuing education for LPCCs, MFTs and LCSWs (provider #PCE234)
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NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 4469
There are no known conflicts of interest, and no commercial support, associated with this program.
AI was not used in the creation of this course.
We are not authorized to speak on behalf of any licensing boards. If you have questions, check your licensing board’s website for their approved CE providers (for example, to see if they accept APA- or NBCC-approved CE providers). If you are still not sure, feel free to send what you have found on your licensing board’s website to help@trieft.organd they can help further clarify.
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
Only those who 1) attend this workshop in full, 2) purchase a CE certificate, and 3) complete the CE evaluation (via Google Forms sent by email) will receive a CE Certificate verifying CE credit. ALL attendees who fully attend will receive a free certificate of completion, valid for ICEEFT Certification, via email within two weeks after the training is completed. Please note that CE credit or a certificate of completion will only be granted to those who attend the entire workshop.
ACCOMMODATIONS:
NCCEFT meets all applicable local, state and federal standards, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), 42, U.S.C. 12101-12213 (2008)). We hold events only at professional venues that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), 42, U.S.C. 12101-12213 (2008)
ADA NEEDS: We will be happy to accommodate your ADA needs; please contact us at ncceftinfo@gmail.com at least two weeks prior to the seminar date.
NCCEFT PROGRAM GRIEVANCE AND REFUND POLICY:
The Northern California Community for Emotionally Focused Therapy (NCCEFT) is fully committed to conducting all activities in strict conformance with the American Psychological Association's Ethical Principles of Psychologists. NCCEFT will comply with all legal and ethical responsibilities to be non-discriminatory in promotional activities, program content and in the treatment of program participants. The monitoring and assessment of compliance with these standards will be the responsibility of the CPA PAS CE Program Director in consultation with the Board of Directors (Steering Committee).
While NCCEFT works to assure fair treatment for all participants and attempts to anticipate problems, there will be occasional issues which will require intervention and/or action on the part of NCCEFT. This procedural description serves as a guideline for handling such complaints.
When a participant, either orally or in written format, files a grievance and expects action on the complaint, the following actions will be taken:
1. If the complaint concerns a speaker, the content presented by the speaker, or the style of presentation, the individual filing the complaint will be asked to put his/her comments in written format. The CE Program Director will then pass on the comments to the speaker, assuring the confidentiality of the aggrieved individual.
2. If the complaint concerns a workshop offering, its content, level of presentation, or the facilities in which the workshop was offered, the CE Program Director will mediate and will be the final arbitrator. If the participant requests action during a workshop or conference, the CE Program Director or his/her representative will:
a. attempt to rectify the situation, and/or
b. provide a credit for a subsequent presentation, in the event of a program having an attendance fee or
c. provide a partial or full refund of the registration fee, in the event of a program having an attendance fee.
Actions 2b and 2c will require a written note, documenting the grievance, for record keeping purposes. The note need not be signed by the aggrieved individual.
3. If the grievance concerns the business practices of the NCCEFT CE program in a specific regard, the CE Program Director or Administrator will attempt to arbitrate.
CODE OF CONDUCT:
By registering for this training, participants agree to abide by the NCCEFT Code of Conduct, which ensures a respectful, inclusive, and supportive environment for all attendees. Failure to adhere to this Code may result in removal from the event without refund.
REFUND AND ATTENDANCE POLICY:
In the event that a program presentation has an attendance fee, CANCELLATIONS are subject to a $100.00 processing fee and must be received 14 days prior to be eligible for a refund.
