About this episode

The episode explores the long-term effects of burnout in pursuers within emotionally focused therapy and offers practical strategies for healing.

Welcome to the Leading Edge in Emotionally Focused Therapy, hosted by Drs. James Hawkins, Ph.D., LPC, and Ryan Rana, Ph.D., LMFT, LPC—Renowned ICEEFT Therapists, Supervisors, and Trainers. We're thrilled to have you with us. We believe this podcast, a valuable resource, will empower you to push the boundaries in your work, helping individuals and couples connect more deeply with themselves and each other. In this episode of The Leading Edge in Emotionally Focused Therapy, James and Ryan explore the “sequela” — the long-term fallout — of the burnout pursuer and how that shows up in both Stage 1 and Stage 2 EFT. They unpack what it means to truly witness a burned-out pursuer’s journey instead of trying to “get them to move,” why holdouts are such a powerful (and costly) survival strategy, and how to work with the unique shame of someone who feels, “I hate myself for still loving you.” You’ll hear practical ways to: Stay grounded with a pursuer who’s done protesting and now just shows up with crossed arms Do the kind of historical witnessing that feels more like a series of emotional “massages” than a quick intervention Use hope scenes and the “big three” moments of failed hope in…

People in this episode

Hosts: Dr. James Hawkins, Dr. Ryan Rana

Topics covered

• burnout
• emotionally focused therapy
• shame
• hope scenes
• healing

Keywords

• burnout pursuer
• EFT
• shame
• hope scenes
• emotional witnessing

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: ICEEFT

More episodes of The Leading Edge in Emotionally Focused Therapy

• 143. Stage 2 Series: “When Every Path Hurts: Getting the Most from You in Stage 2 EFT” · July 1, 2026 · 30 min

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