Deliberate Practice and EFT with EFT Supervisor Kamila Kaminska
The Emotionally Focused Therapy PodcastShow Notes
Deliberate Practice in EFT:
Why Scripts, Repetition, and Micro-Skills Matter. Michael Preston is joined by Kamila Kaminska for a focused conversation on how therapists actually build EFT skill. They unpack what deliberate practice is, what it is not, and why small, repeated interventions can change both clinical competence and the therapist’s way of seeing clients. The conversation explores how therapists can move from broad conceptual understanding to embodied skill, why specific scripts matter, and how deliberate practice can address both clinical technique and personal blocks. Key Topics What deliberate practice really means: Kamila defines it as focused, intentional rehearsal of one small therapeutic skill at a time. What deliberate practice is not: The conversation distinguishes deliberate practice from simply discussing a case or participating in a broad role play. Why therapists plateau: Experience alone does not guarantee continued growth. Without intentional skill development, therapists may become more comfortable without becoming more effective. The value of focusing on one skill: Michael shares how narrowing his focus to a single part of the EFT Tango helped him build confidence and competence without becoming overwhelmed. How deliberate practice progresses: The process may be sequential for some therapists and more exploratory for others, depending on their specific learning edge. Why scripts matter: Repeating exact therapeutic language helps interventions become part of procedural memory, making them easier to access in emotionally intense moments. Using supervision effectively: The speakers discuss how a broad suggestion such as “validate more” becomes more useful when translated into specific words a therapist can practice. Working with personal blocks: Deliberate practice can address moments when therapists freeze, lose their thread, become judgmental, or feel dysregulated in session. Finding your own therapeutic voice: Kamila explains why learning and repeating scripts does not erase a therapist’s individuality. Structure can provide the foundation from which personal style develops. Learning from teachers: Michael describes studying phrases and interventions from experienced EFT clinicians, then adapting them into his own work. Making practice manageable: Deliberate practice does not require hours every day. Even a few focused minutes can help keep skills fresh and support steady growth.
To learn more about working with or training with Michael Barnett or Dr. Silvina Irwin visit their websites
www.michaelbarnettlpc.com www.drsilvinairwin.com www.eftcla.org To learn more about working with Michael Preston for EFT Supervision visit Michael's website. www.michaelprestonlpc.com To join the Waitlist for the Michael's Tango Deliberate Practice Group visit www.michaelprestonlpc.com/tangowaitlist
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