[Emotion-Focused Therapy-Inspired Intervention to Promote Emotional Regulation and Facilitate Return to Work for...

The return to work (RTW) of an employee on sick leave for a common mental disorder can be hampered by various obstacles, including complex or conflictual interpersonal relationships. These dynamics may be accompanied by complex emotions that are poorly regulated or difficult for the employee to identify. Emotion-focused psychotherapy, developed by Leslie Greenberg (2020), offers techniques to promote better emotional regulation, which can support a more harmonious RTW. This article aims to present a set of specific techniques enabling people to deal with the complex and maladaptive emotions that arise in the context of difficult relationships, whether real or anticipated, during RTW. Firstly, the rationale behind working with emotions in psychotherapy and the importance of emotional regulation in a person's functioning will be presented. The techniques of focusing, empty-chair dialogue, and two-chair dialogue will then be explained, together with their specific objectives. These interventions are illustrated using a clinical vignette involving an employee on leave for an adjustment disorder with relationship difficulties with his immediate superior. Although promising, this innovative intervention applied to the specific context of RTW will need to be tested to assess both the employee's emotional functioning and to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention.