61. Understanding Emotion in Therapy

In this episode, Dr. Brenda Murrow reflects on her journey as a clinician and how her early training shaped her approach to emotion-focused therapy (EFT), developed by Drs. Greenberg and Johnson. She explores the idea that all therapy, no matter the approach, involves emotions—because clients most often seek help in response to emotional challenges.

Dr. Murrow discusses research by Steffen & Anderson (2025) highlighting affect as the “primary appraisal” in decision-making, connecting these findings to her own clinical observations. She reflects on how emotions guide clients’ responses, shape therapeutic interventions, and influence the choices therapists make in session.

Drawing from her early work supporting survivors of sexual assault at a rape crisis center, Dr. Murrow examines how trauma can affect a client’s trust in their own thinking, the role of psychological defenses, and why focusing on emotions—rather than relying only on cognitive strategies—can support healing. She also shares reflections on working with children who have experienced trauma, discussing the benefits and limitations of play therapy, nonverbal communication, and developmental frameworks in guiding interventions.

Throughout the episode, Dr. Murrow encourages therapists to consider their own approach, reflect on the decisions they make in session, and integrate emotion into practice in ways that strengthen the therapeutic relationship and support meaningful outcomes for clients.

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References:

Dr. Les Greenberg information:

Southern California Institute of Emotion-Focused Therapy: https://www.eftsocal.com/

Dr. Sue Johnson information:

https://drsuejohnson.com/

McWilliams, N. (2011). Psychoanalytic Diagnosis: Understanding personality structure in the clinical process (2nd ed.)Guilford Press.

National Sexual Violence Resource Center: https://www.nsvrc.org

Panksepp, J. & Biven, L. (2012). The Archaeology of mind: Neuroevolutionary origins of human emotions. New York, NY: Norton.

Piaget’s Stages of Development

https://www.webmd.com/children/piaget-stages-of-development

Steffen, P. R., & Anderson, T. (2025). Primary appraisal is affective not cognitive: Exploring a revised transactional model of stress and coping. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, 50(2), 197–211. https://doi-org.pgi.idm.oclc.org/10.1007/s10484-025-09699-w