Our field lost a giant when Sue passed away on April 23, 2024, and many of us lost a dear colleague and friend! Sue embodied what it means to live a purpose-driven life. We are living in a time where the importance of good relationships has taken center stage. That is due in large part to pioneers like Sue, who was in relentless pursuit of healing relationships. Sue took it upon herself to create a mini empire, ICEEFT - International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy, a center that conducts EFT research and trains health professionals in the model. Her compassionate approach, rooted in decades of research and clinical experience, has helped couples around the world rebuild trust, heal wounds, and rediscover the joy of being truly connected.
Hailing from Kent, England, Sue emigrated to Canada in her early 20s and pursued doctoral work at the University of British Columbia. She then joined the faculty at the University of Ottawa, and founded the Ottawa Couple and Family Institute in 1999 with her husband, John Douglas, and colleague Alison Lee. Many honors were bestowed upon Sue for her incredible contributions, such as being named a member of the Order of Canada in 2016, and receiving the Psychotherapy Networker Lifetime Achievement Award, and the American Psychological Association’s Award for Distinguished Professional Contributions to Applied Research.
Sue’s groundbreaking work in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) has revolutionized the field of couples therapy, leaving an indelible mark on the way we understand and heal relationships. Although originally created for couples, the model has since been extended to work with families and individuals. With her pioneering approach, she has offered couples a pathway to deep emotional connection and resilience. The lead article in the June 2024 issue of our division journal, "Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practiceopens in new window", is a meta-analysis of 20 studies of the efficacy of emotionally focused couple therapy conducted by Paul Spengler, PhD, and colleagues.
Sue was fervent in asking the question, “What can we do to get our relationship science into the hands of millions of couples?!” A prolific writer and highly sought after speaker, she wrote both for professionals and the general public, with numerous bestselling resources including the series of Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love products that spanned books, online trainings, and in-person workshops.
Sue was generous with her time, ideas, and in mentoring the next generation of clinician scholars and researchers. She was a talented, charismatic clinician that could diffuse the most difficult, polarizing couple interaction into a moment of connection and compassion. Sue’s legacy is undeniable. She is on our Mount Rushmore of legendary couple therapists and researchers who transformed a field and developed a therapy that has become a household name. Sue reminded us of the profound need we all have for love and security, and provided us with a framework for how to create a safe space for couples to explore their vulnerabilities and fears. Her legacy will continue to inspire therapists and couples alike for generations to come, reminding us of the transformative power of love and understanding!
Thank you, Sue!
The ICEEFT created a lovely video tribute to Sue, entitled “I Was Hereopens in new window.”