Case Presentation with Katie Kjelsaas

Healing Beyond Survival: An EFIT Journey Through Developmental and Acute Trauma

“You are not the darkness you endured. You are the light that refused to surrender.” — John Mark Green

Join us for an inspiring and clinically rich exploration of Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) through the presentation of a client living with both developmental and acute trauma.

Using two video excerpts from different stages of therapy, we will follow the client’s journey from an early Stage 1 EFIT Tango and Engaged Encounter through to a deeper Stage 2 process, highlighting the evolution of emotional engagement, attachment security, and self-reintegration.

Together, we will explore how the EFIT Tango unfolds across the therapeutic process, examining how therapist and client work collaboratively to respond to trauma cues with compassionate curiosity, strengthen personal agency, reshape the client’s model of self, and support adaptive action that consolidates lasting change.

Drawing on Dr Sue Johnson’s invitation to “get out of the way of the wired-in natural growth process of your client,” this presentation offers an opportunity to reflect on the power of presence, responsiveness, and secure therapeutic connection in trauma healing.

Participants will be invited to ask questions, compare the application of the EFIT Tango across treatment stages, and engage in thoughtful discussion about the art and science of facilitating transformation in trauma therapy.

Event Details

📅 Date: Saturday, 25 July 2026
🕥 Time: 10:30 am – 12:30 pm (AEST)
💻 Format: Live via Zoom

Please note: This event will not be recorded. To gain the full benefit of the presentation and discussion, participants are encouraged to attend live.

Certificate of Attendance: A certificate confirming 2 hours of professional development will be emailed to participants approximately two weeks after the event.

Meet the Presenter

Dr Katie Kjelsaas’ passion is improving connections. She runs a successful private practice, Connections Count
and provides online therapy for couples, families and individuals. Katie is an ICEEFT Certified Emotionally
Focused Therapist & Supervisor and uses EFT as her main treatment modality for individuals and relationships.
She is passionate about mentoring and training other therapists and provides supervision and training for
therapists and other health professionals. She also publishes a free monthly newsletter, ‘Elevate', with resources
and reflections for therapists.
Katie completed a Doctorate of Clinical Psychology at the University of Queensland. She is the recipient of the
University Medal, APS Prize, McBride Psychology Prize and Tian P.S. Oei Clinical Research Prize for her
academic and research work.
Her published research has examined gender stereotypes, social skills, occupational burnout and the impact of
online social networking on mental health. Her clinical interest areas include supporting relationship adjustment
during transition points (e.g. marriage and remarriage, parenthood, career change, retirement); dynamics of
sexual desire; self-efficacy, integration of faith and spirituality in therapy, self-actualisation and post-traumatic
growth.
Therapists in Katie's online group practice also focus on relational issues and use Emotionally Focused Therapy
as their primary modality, alongside a range of complimentary evidence-based practices.