Connection Before Correction How Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Can Transform Workplace Culture

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), long used in individual and couples therapy, offers powerful tools for the corporate world.

- Mukul Varma

While traditional emotional intelligence (EQ) models such as Daniel Goleman's focus on self-regulation and empathy, EFT goes deeper—helping people understand the attachment needs and emotional triggers beneath workplace behaviours.

Mohita Aggarwal, a psychologist and corporate trainer with over 20 years of cross-industry experience, has pioneered the application of EFT in organisational settings. Her work focuses on creating psychologically safe workplaces where trust, collaboration, and innovation can thrive.

Q You come from a background in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), traditionally used in couples and individual therapy. What inspired you to apply this model in the corporate world?

Let me begin with a simple truth most of us rarely pause to consider: we don't leave our emotional patterns at the door when we walk into a corporate building. Through my work with EFT, I've discovered something profound-the very same attachment patterns we form in our early years show up in boardrooms, team meetings, and even in how we write Slack messages.

EFT is rooted in attachment theory, which tells us we're wired for connection. As children, we form emotional maps based on our early experiences- maps that determine how we handle stress, conflict, and intimacy. These don't vanish with age or job titles. In fact, they resurface- often in the heat of corporate conflict, when feedback feels threatening, or when we're navigating team dynamics under pressure.

That's a powerful insight. Can you give us examples of how these attachment patterns play out in the workplace?