Division 12 of the APA recently classified EFT as having “Strong” research support, the highest level of evidence that they recognize. While many couples therapies claim to be “research based,” often this means that they are designed based on research about couples. This is different than actually having evidence that the couples therapy is proven to help couples in the long and short term. EFT has many peer-reviewed studies demonstrating efficacy of the actual treatment.

https://www.div12.org/treatment/emotionally-focused-couples-therapy/

Note that the APA has just begun evaluating treatments based on their new 2015 criteria.