The Research - Hold Me Tight Online

Hold Me Tight® Online: The Science Behind the Program

Dr. Sue Johnson’s pioneering work has shown that strong relationships thrive on a foundation of emotional connection and secure attachment. The Hold Me Tight® Online program is built on Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), a highly researched and proven approach to relationship well mt-4ness. With over 30 years of scientific studies published in leading journals, EFT has consistently demonstrated its effectiveness in helping couples create secure and lasting bonds. This evidence-based foundation allows the Hold Me Tight® Online program to offer a structured and effective path to improving relationship satisfaction, emotional closeness, and communication.

Below, you'll find a selection of key studies that demonstrate the unparalleled effectiveness of the Hold Me Tight® program and its Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) foundations.

Key Research Supporting Hold Me Tight®

Conversations for Connection: An Outcome Assessment of the Hold-Me-Tight Relationship-Education Program for Couples, and Recommendations for Improving Future Research Methodology in Relationship Education

Kennedy, N.W., Johnson, S.M., Wiebe, S.A., & Tasca, G.A. (2019)
Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 45(3), 431-446.

This study found that couples who participated in the Hold Me Tight program experienced significant improvements in their relationship satisfaction, trust, and emotional closeness. The findings suggest that the program provides couples with practical tools to break negative patterns and deepen their emotional connection.

A Hold Me Tight Workshop for Couple Attachment and Sexual Intimacy

Morgis, B., Ewing, E., Liu, T., Slaughter-Acey, J., Fisher, K., & Jampol, R. (2019)
Contemporary Family Therapy, 41(4), 1409-1411.

Research shows that Hold Me Tight workshops help couples improve both their emotional and physical intimacy. Participants reported feeling more connected and understood by their partners, leading to stronger, more fulfilling relationships.

A Pilot Implementation of the Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy Group Psychoeducation Program in a South African Setting

Lesch, E., de Bruin, K., & Anderson, C. (2018)
Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 17(4), 313-337.

This study tested the Hold Me Tight program in South Africa and found it to be effective in helping couples from diverse cultural backgrounds build stronger emotional bonds and improve their communication.

Effectiveness of the ‘Hold me Tight’ Relationship Enhancement Program in a Self-referred and a Clinician-referred Sample: An Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy-Based Approach

Conradi, H.J., Dingemanse, P., Noordhof, A., Finkenauer, C., & Kamphuis, J.H. (2017)
Family Process, 57(3), 613-628.

Research showed that the Hold Me Tight program works well mt-4 for both couples who seek help on their own and those referred by therapists. Participants reported significant improvements in communication, trust, and overall relationship happiness.

'Hold Me Tight': The Generalizability of an Attachment-Based Group Intervention to Chinese Canadian Couples

Wong, T.Y., Greenman, P.S., & Beaudoin, V. (2017)
Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 17(1), 42-60.

This study demonstrated that the Hold Me Tight program is effective across different cultural backgrounds. Chinese Canadian couples reported feeling more secure and connected after completing the program, highlighting its broad appeal and adaptability.