“Do you have anything like Narcan for relationships?”

The traditional flow of a couples counseling session involves the therapist posing thoughtful questions to clients that help them dig for answers. The aim is to assist clients with deep thinking and possibly see things from other perspectives. One of the things I try to do at the end of a session is to inquire if there is anything I didn’t ask that they wanted to discuss and to ask if the clients have any questions for me.

That’s a carry-over from my previous role as a journalist. It was something I offered at the end of every interview. From time to time, I get questions about my experience in broadcast news. Last week a client asked about what my favorite assignment was. I told them about my time embedding with small town ambulance crews chasing opioid overdoses in 2017. I witnessed over and over the hard-working (but understandably jaded) EMT workers respond to individuals “Smurfing-out,” as they called it. The blue-ish skin tone that washes over someone on the brink of death and in the grip of a fentanyl overdose miraculously returns to their normal within seconds of naloxone. More commonly known by the brand name Narcan, naloxone blocks the brain’s uptake of opioids by replacing them, essentially filling the opioid receptor hole. Naloxone replaces the opioid; booting it out or filling the hole before the heroin or fentanyl can plug into the receptor. As I was explaining the miracle of witnessing crews bring someone back from the dead, my client sat open-jawed and said, “Do you have anything like Narcan for relationships?”

It made me stop and think.

Is EFT like Narcan for relationships?

In the raw, vulnerable landscape of clients’ lives, there may be moments when their relationship feels like it’s flatlining. Communication has broken down, trust is shattered, and intimacy feels like a distant memory. Their relationship is akin to someone on the brink of an overdose—struggling to breathe, heartbeat slowing, the color draining from their shared life. EFT has the power to revive, much like Narcan does in a medical emergency.

EFT, at its core, taps into the fundamental human need for connection. It helps couples confront their deepest fears and longings, fostering a space of empathy and understanding. Just as Narcan blocks the life-threatening effects of opioids, EFT disrupts destructive emotional cycles, allowing partners to see and hear each other anew. It’s about breaking through the barriers of blame, defensiveness, and withdrawal to find the emotional oxygen they need to survive. EFT offers couples a pathway back to each other, transforming fear and isolation into hope and closeness. Just as Narcan is a beacon of hope in the midst of a medical crisis, EFT provides the tools and support couples need to breathe new life into their relationship.

Now on with this week’s Ohio EFT Newsletter:

What Will Marriage Look Like In The Future?

by Michel Martin on June 24th, 2024

Romantic norms appear more fluid now than ever before.

Over the past few decades, cohabitation rates have nearly doubled, more children are being born outside of marriage, and in recent months, there’s been buzz around polyamory and open relationships. With younger generations less set on following tradition, marriage could look very different in the future.

This summer, NPR’s Morning Edition is looking into marriage as part of their “Summer of Love” series. In this article, NPR asks listeners for their thoughts on marriage. The audience responded, and many detailed how they structure their relationships and other ways they’ve found love.

Men’s Brains Change When They Become Dads.

by?Lindsey Bever on June 24th, 2024

Studies have shown that when?women become pregnant,?and?after they give birth, physical changes occur in their brains that, some researchers suspect, may help prepare them for motherhood. A new study done in Spain looks at the impact on men. In this story, you’ll learn how new?research?shows that new fathers go through?similar changes. One researcher said the brain changes that men experience may support bonding and connecting with their baby.

Surgeon General Calls For Social Media Warning Labels.

by Cristiano Lima-Strong on June 24th, 2024

The U.S. Surgeon General’s call to action comes as regulators scrutinize links between social media use and children’s mental health, amid scientific debate. Read the full story here.

Our Next OhioEFT Zoom Call Is This Friday, June 28th.

by OhioEFT on June 24th, 2024

Join us at 9:00am this Friday for our continuing discussion about Emotionally Focused Therapy. We’ll be discussing macro-interventions and micro-interventions. You don't have to live in Ohio to join in! Send me a direct message here on Linked In for a link to the call.

Americans Are Sleeping More Than Ever. See How You Compare.

by Caitlin Gilbert on June 24th, 2024

It wasn’t just you who rolled over and hit the snooze button this morning. Americans are now sleeping more than at any point in the past two decades, a trend that accelerated during the pandemic, according to this Washington Post analysis.

Making New Friends Can Be Hard. Here Are 5 Ways To Make 1 Friend A Year.

by Emma Nadler on June 24th, 2024

Many clients struggle with loneliness. This advice columnist has suggestions about sparking new connections. Among them: start looking in places that align with your interests; give attention; show care to others and yourself; take healthy risks; and seek a fresh perspective.

Here’s How Long It Takes Workers To Become 401(k) Millionaires

by Michelle Singltary on June 24th, 2024

Financial stress is a common issue for couples in counseling. Many tell me they are burning the candle at both ends just to scrape by. Yet, at the same time, the number of people who crossed the seven-figure mark with their 401(k) accounts just hit an all-time high. This article in the Washington Post investigates new data from Fidelity Investments and looks at the behavior of workers who have invested their way to seven-figure retirement accounts. One key characteristic among them is patience.

Sarah Mandel, Therapist Who Told Her ‘Trauma Narrative,’ Dies at 42

by Richard Sandomir on June 24th, 2024

On June 1, a short, emotional?video?popped up on TikTok with news about Sarah Mandel, a 42-year-old psychologist, wife and mother of two young daughters.

“If you’re reading these words right now,” the message on the screen said, “then I have died.” Since it was posted less than a month ago, the video has been seen 1.7 million times. Mandel received a diagnosis of Stage 4 breast cancer late in her second pregnancy and described her experience in a book, “Little Earthquakes: A Memoir.”

Best Months to Visit Each National Park

by Recomendo on June 24th, 2024

Many people find that connecting with nature boosts their mental health. With that in mind, I love?this visual guide?that shows the best months to visit all U.S. national parks. It's easy to read and will hopefully take the guesswork out of planning your next outdoor adventure. Here is the?accompanying blog post?about the criteria used to determine the “best” times to visit each park. The creator considered factors like historical visitor statistics, seasonal weather, road and trail closures, and even special annual events like bat flights and wildflower blooms.?