Dr. Susan Johnson

Dr. Sue Johnson

World renowned psychologist, best selling author, professor, researcher, creator of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), amazing partner, incredible mum, gardener, feminist, tango dancer, lover of nature, student of history, Sue lived with cancer for three years. On April 23, 2024, that journey ended.

Sue was passionate about her work, passionate about her family and friends – and her dogs. She loved teaching and treasured her students.

Sue was the recipient of various awards and was most proud of receiving the Order of Canada from her adopted country.

Sue was born on December 19, 1947 and grew up in Kent, England, staying there until completing her undergraduate degree from the University of Hull. Soon thereafter, she moved to Vancouver, Canada, where she completed her master’s degree and subsequently her doctorate from the University of British Columbia.

Wanting to determine how best to help couples repair conflicts, strengthen their relationships and improve their mental health, she viewed hundreds of hours of tapes of therapy sessions to find the key elements that affected the difference and changed peoples’ lives. Her resulting thesis became the core of EFT – a humanistic and experiential model of therapy which has now become the couple therapy with the best empirically-validated results in the world. Along with her colleagues, during (and after) her tenure as a professor at the University of Ottawa, she further developed EFT to demonstrate its equal relevance and value for individual (EFIT) and family (EFFT) therapy, grounded in attachment science and the strength of emotional connection.

Sue leaves a substantial body of work – numerous books, articles, chapters, teaching videos, interviews, podcasts, and her first work of fiction, Edgar & Elouise. Her first book for the general public, Hold Me Tight, Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love, has sold over one million copies, been translated into over 30 languages, and been developed into relationship educational programs for both live events and online formats.

Sue believed that to teach and show the power of the EFT therapy model, she needed to not only write and explain it, but that it was also important to illustrate her work. She recorded numerous live therapy sessions that demonstrated the efficacy of EFT for the education of other mental health professionals. Sue wanted others to understand what works and how the power and significance of emotion in peoples’ lives is critical for therapeutic healing and overall health and well being.

Along with her husband, John Douglas, and her colleagues, Gail Palmer and Alison Lee, Sue founded the Ottawa Couple and Family Institute in 1998. Not long after, the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT) was established – a worldwide network of mental health professionals united to promote the use and understanding of EFT. Today there are many thousands of therapists who are members, almost 90 certified EFT trainers and about 100 affiliated centres and communities around the world. EFT is taught in over 15 languages and in over 40 countries. Sue often spoke of a key goal in her life - to have an impact. Indeed, she did.

Sue leaves her husband John, her three children, Sarah, Tim and Emma, granddaughter, Amelie and countless friends and colleagues. Sue connected with people wherever she went. Sue taught us how to love. Sue has left the world a better place. May her memory be a blessing upon us all.