Susan Johnson (19 December 1947 – 23 April 2024) was a British

clinical psychologist Clinical psychology is an integration of social science, theory, and clinical knowledge for the purpose of understanding, preventing, and relieving psychologically based distress or dysfunction and to promote subjective well-being and persona ...

, couples therapist and author who lived and worked in Canada. She is known for her work in the field of psychology on bonding, attachment and adult romantic relationships.

Life and career

Johnson earned a B.A. in English Literature from the

University of Hull The University of Hull is a public research university in Kingston upon Hull, a city in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It was founded in 1927 as University College Hull. The main university campus is located in Hull and is home to the Hull ...

in 1968, and an Ed.D. in Counselling Psychology from the

University of British Columbia The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a public university, public research university with campuses near Vancouver and in Kelowna, British Columbia. Established in 1908, it is British Columbia's oldest university. The university ranks a ...

in 1984. At the time of her death, she held the title of Emeritus Professor in the Department of

Psychology Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Psychology includes the study of conscious and unconscious phenomena, including feelings and thoughts. It is an academic discipline of immense scope, crossing the boundaries betwe ...

at the University of Ottawa. With

Les Greenberg Leslie Samuel Greenberg (born 30 September 1945) is a Canadian psychologist born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and is one of the originators and primary developers of Emotion-Focused Therapy for individuals and couples. He is a professor emeri ...

, she developed emotionally focused couples and family therapy (EFT), a

psychotherapeutic Psychotherapy (also psychological therapy, talk therapy, or talking therapy) is the use of psychological methods, particularly when based on regular personal interaction, to help a person change behavior, increase happiness, and overcome prob ...

approach for couples based on attachment theory. She founded the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy, which offers training in EFT to mental health professionals. Johnson authored several books for therapists (including EFT treatment manuals) and general audiences. In 2016, Johnson was named Family Psychologist of the Year by the

American Psychological Association The American Psychological Association (APA) is the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States, with over 133,000 members, including scientists, educators, clinicians, consultants, and students. It ha ...

's Society for Couple and Family Psychology. In the 2016 Canadian honours, she was appointed a

Member of the Order of Canada The Order of Canada (french: Ordre du Canada; abbreviated as OC) is a Canadian state order and the second-highest Award, honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit. To coincide with ...

(CM). Johnson died from cancer in Victoria, British Columbia, on 23 April 2024, at the age of 76.

Selected works

;Books *Johnson, S.M. (2019) Attachment Theory in Practice: Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) With Individuals, Couples, and Families. New York: Guilford Press *Johnson, S.M.; Sanderfer, K. (2016) Created for Connection: The "Hold Me Tight" Guide for Christian Couples. New York: Little Brown *Johnson, S.M. (2013) Love Sense: The Revolutionary Science of Romantic Relationships. New York: Little Brown *Johnson, S.M. (2008) Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love. New York: Little Brown * Johnson, S.M. (2007). ''Practica de la Terapia Matrimonial Concentrada Emocionalmente: Creando Conexiones'' New York: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group – Spanish Edition. *Johnson, S.M., Bradley, B., Furrow, J., Lee, A., Palmer, G., Tilley, D. & Woolley, S.(2005) Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist: The Workbook. New York: Brunner /Routledge. *Johnson, S.M. (2002) Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy with Trauma Survivors: Strengthening Attachment Bonds. New York: Guilford Press. *Johnson, S.M. (1996) (2004 -2nd edition). Creating Connection: The Practice of Emotionally Focused Marital Therapy. New York: Brunner/Mazel (now Brunner /Routledge). *Saxe, B. J., Johnson, S.M. et al. (1994) From victim to survivor: A group treatment model for women survivors of incest. Government of Canada: Health Department. Distributed across Canada in French and English, pp. 1–188. *Greenberg, L. & Johnson, S.M. (1988) Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples. New York: Guilford Press. ;Articles * Johnson, S.M. (2008)
"My, How Couples Therapy Has Changed!: Attachment, Love and Science."

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Sue 1947 births 2024 deaths 21st-century Canadian psychologists Canadian psychotherapists Canadian women psychologists Academic staff of the University of Ottawa People from Chatham, Kent Alumni of the University of Hull University of British Columbia alumni Canadian women non-fiction writers 21st-century Canadian women writers 20th-century Canadian women writers 21st-century Canadian non-fiction writers 20th-century Canadian non-fiction writers Members of the Order of Canada Deaths from cancer in British Columbia English emigrants to Canada