Emotion-Focused Therapy Session Note

- Client presented with persistent feelings of loneliness and a sense of being misunderstood, particularly in her romantic relationships. She expressed a desire to connect more deeply but felt a recurring pattern of pushing others away. Emotional Experience: - Core emotions: Sadness, fear of abandonment, underlying anger towards past relational hurts. - Emotional processing and underlying needs: Client initially struggled to articulate her feelings beyond general distress. Through exploration, it became clear her sadness stemmed from unmet needs for secure attachment and belonging. Her fear of abandonment led to self-protective mechanisms. She processed a connection between her current difficulties and early childhood experiences of perceived neglect, acknowledging a deep longing for acceptance. - Avoidant or protective strategies: Client frequently intellectualised her feelings, rationalising relationship difficulties rather than engaging with the emotional pain. She also demonstrated a pattern of emotional withdrawal when feeling vulnerable, describing it as 'creating distance to protect myself'. Significant Moments: - Key emotional shifts: A significant shift occurred when the client connected her current fear of abandonment to a memory of being left alone frequently as a child. This insight brought tears and a softening of her previously guarded demeanor. She also experienced a moment of insight regarding her tendency to preemptively end relationships to avoid being hurt, stating, "I push people away before they can leave me." - Important client statements: "I feel like I'm constantly bracing myself for disappointment, so I just cut things off first." and "It's easier to be alone than to constantly fear someone leaving." - End-of-session emotional state: Client ended the session feeling emotionally drained but also with a sense of relief and clarity. She expressed feeling more connected to her inner experience and a readiness to explore these patterns further. - Homework, reflections, or goals: Client agreed to observe her impulse to withdraw in interactions over the coming week and journal about any feelings of vulnerability or fear of abandonment that arise. Goal for next session is to explore specific strategies for managing these impulses and communicating her needs.