Masterclass 2: Changing emotion with emotion Les Greenberg is a leading figure in the world of psychology and psychotherapy. With more than four decades of experience and expertise in emotion-focused approaches, Greenberg has had a lasting impact on the way we understand and work with emotions in the therapeutic setting.

At 78 years old, Les flew in from Canada to our studio to treat five courageous participants with EFT and conduct a two-day course. His energy and therapeutic skills are truly inspiring! Watching Les consistently uncover the underlying pain, the 'primary emotion,' through EFT is incredibly powerful. Soon, these EFT-Tapes will be available on Psyflix. This is Greenberg's major contribution to psychotherapy: 'changing emotion with emotion.'

This video explores Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), a therapeutic approach that views emotions as central to human experience. EFT helps clients become aware of, accept, and transform their emotions. The therapy combines following the client’s emotional process with guiding them through tasks like resolving unresolved feelings or self-criticism. By focusing on bodily responses and synthesizing emotions (e.g., turning shame into healthy anger), EFT fosters deep emotional change. The process is non-linear, emphasizing experiential over intellectual understanding, and aims to help clients transform core painful emotions.

In this video, Les Greenberg demonstrates Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) with Marcel, a patient who struggles with a pleasing attitude. Marcel discusses how he often stays quiet, especially around dominant individuals, and avoids expressing his true thoughts. In the first session, he also addresses his relationship with his mother, exploring its impact on his behavior. Throughout the session, Greenberg guides Marcel in unpacking these issues and shares key takeaways for therapists on how to approach similar dynamics in their own practice.

In the second session with Marcel, Les Greenberg continues the Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) demonstration. In the previous session, they explored Marcel's relationship with his mother, but today, Marcel considers discussing his father. When he holds back, Marcel also reflects on his physical reactions, noting that he grinds his teeth at night. His father was a quiet man but prone to sudden bursts of anger.

In session 1 with Maartje, Maartje discusses her struggle to set boundaries and take care of herself. Each time she tries to prioritize her own needs, she becomes very emotional, with tears in her eyes and a lump in her throat. It's the small things that trigger her. Les Greenberg aims to explore the deeper meaning behind these emotions.

Session 2 with Maartje – Maartje feels positive after the first session. Today, she wants to work on her anger. Les wants to explore this further: Where does the anger come from? When and why does it arise?

First session with Marieke – Marieke struggles with feelings of envy, an emotion she feels deeply ashamed of. While acknowledging it is already a step forward, she usually tries to suppress these feelings. In this session, Les Greenberg helps her explore where this envy stems from and how it impacts her daily life.

Second session with Marieke – Marieke feels indecisive about what to discuss today. It seems like they touched on an important layer in the previous session, but there's something more beneath it. Les Greenberg guides her as they delve deeper into this emotion and explore its underlying layers.

First session with Lisette – Lisette experiences a strange sense of disgust when people become clingy; she feels like saying, "Leave me alone. Don’t stick to me," even with friends and strangers. This isn’t physical, but rather emotional. Les Greenberg explores this feeling more deeply, trying to understand where it might come from. What does "too close" mean to her, and why doesn't she want to feel this way in friendships?

Second session with Lisette – Lisette feels positive after the first session and shared it with her friends, who responded by expressing pride in her. This made her reflect, as she’s never really proud of herself and tends to see it as something ordinary. In this second session, she wants to explore with Les Greenberg how to feel pride in herself and celebrate her achievements without brushing it off as normal.

First session with Jasper – Jasper wants to talk about his feelings. He feels cold and closed-off, and experiences a sense of exposure when emotions surge. When feelings come up, he feels the need to shut them down, not show or share them. He especially shuts down when there is an expectation from others to express what he's feeling. Les Greenberg aims to explore further: when does this happen, with whom, and where does this response originate?

Second session with Jasper – Jasper reflected on yesterday's session. This morning, he felt uncertain about himself and the topic, though he can’t quite pinpoint why these feelings arose. He has many doubts about himself. Jasper wants to be seen but shuts down, feeling a pressure to be someone he’s not. Les Greenberg delves deeper: is this what happened in the last session? They explore his childhood and the origins of these feelings.

This video explores Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), a therapeutic approach that views emotions as central to human experience. EFT helps clients become aware of, accept, and transform their emotions. The therapy combines following the client’s emotional process with guiding them through tasks like resolving unresolved feelings or self-criticism. By focusing on bodily responses and synthesizing emotions (e.g., turning shame into healthy anger), EFT fosters deep emotional change. The process is non-linear, emphasizing experiential over intellectual understanding, and aims to help clients transform core painful emotions.

In this video, Les Greenberg demonstrates Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) with Marcel, a patient who struggles with a pleasing attitude. Marcel discusses how he often stays quiet, especially around dominant individuals, and avoids expressing his true thoughts. In the first session, he also addresses his relationship with his mother, exploring its impact on his behavior. Throughout the session, Greenberg guides Marcel in unpacking these issues and shares key takeaways for therapists on how to approach similar dynamics in their own practice.

In the second session with Marcel, Les Greenberg continues the Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) demonstration. In the previous session, they explored Marcel's relationship with his mother, but today, Marcel considers discussing his father. When he holds back, Marcel also reflects on his physical reactions, noting that he grinds his teeth at night. His father was a quiet man but prone to sudden bursts of anger.

In session 1 with Maartje, Maartje discusses her struggle to set boundaries and take care of herself. Each time she tries to prioritize her own needs, she becomes very emotional, with tears in her eyes and a lump in her throat. It's the small things that trigger her. Les Greenberg aims to explore the deeper meaning behind these emotions.

Session 2 with Maartje – Maartje feels positive after the first session. Today, she wants to work on her anger. Les wants to explore this further: Where does the anger come from? When and why does it arise?

First session with Marieke – Marieke struggles with feelings of envy, an emotion she feels deeply ashamed of. While acknowledging it is already a step forward, she usually tries to suppress these feelings. In this session, Les Greenberg helps her explore where this envy stems from and how it impacts her daily life.

Second session with Marieke – Marieke feels indecisive about what to discuss today. It seems like they touched on an important layer in the previous session, but there's something more beneath it. Les Greenberg guides her as they delve deeper into this emotion and explore its underlying layers.

First session with Lisette – Lisette experiences a strange sense of disgust when people become clingy; she feels like saying, "Leave me alone. Don’t stick to me," even with friends and strangers. This isn’t physical, but rather emotional. Les Greenberg explores this feeling more deeply, trying to understand where it might come from. What does "too close" mean to her, and why doesn't she want to feel this way in friendships?

Second session with Lisette – Lisette feels positive after the first session and shared it with her friends, who responded by expressing pride in her. This made her reflect, as she’s never really proud of herself and tends to see it as something ordinary. In this second session, she wants to explore with Les Greenberg how to feel pride in herself and celebrate her achievements without brushing it off as normal.

First session with Jasper – Jasper wants to talk about his feelings. He feels cold and closed-off, and experiences a sense of exposure when emotions surge. When feelings come up, he feels the need to shut them down, not show or share them. He especially shuts down when there is an expectation from others to express what he's feeling. Les Greenberg aims to explore further: when does this happen, with whom, and where does this response originate?

Second session with Jasper – Jasper reflected on yesterday's session. This morning, he felt uncertain about himself and the topic, though he can’t quite pinpoint why these feelings arose. He has many doubts about himself. Jasper wants to be seen but shuts down, feeling a pressure to be someone he’s not. Les Greenberg delves deeper: is this what happened in the last session? They explore his childhood and the origins of these feelings.