Your title is emotion-focused therapy, and that is of the Les Greenberg school of thought. Emotionally focused therapy is of the Sue Johnson school of thought. They both were developed for couples, and rely on the therapist having them attach to each other. Basically, "I'll be there for you no matter what."

EFT of the Sue Johnson school does not require touch, but she has made the statement that touch was a tool that those trained in her method need to have in their toolbox. Touch may be just touching the back of a hand or knee, if the therapist with clients permission believes it would be helpful to a client. Sue Johnson is all about changing our negative attachment styles we have used for survival to a more safe and secure attachment style.

My therapist does not use touch with couples, even if their partner refuses to participate. The extensive touch she used with me was because I did not have a partner. She only takes one or two individual clients like me (negative attachment style), at a time. I know I was exhausting. Yet, she had the ability to hang in there with me. She has done EFT (S. Johnson) with a brother and sister, and a mother (in her 80's), and daughter. Touch is not mandatory in this therapy, but the end result should be the ability to feel that your are heard, and you matter to someone no matter what.

If someone clearly has an objection to touch in EFT or any therapy it should not be used. Yes, EFT by Sue Johnson can be done without touch.