Sue Johnson

Susan Johnson (1947 to 2024), known as Sue Johnson, was a British clinical psychologist, couples therapist and author who lived and worked in Canada, known for her work on human bonding, attachment theory and romantic relationships. She earned a B.A. in English literature from the University of Hull in 1968 and an Ed.D. in counselling psychology from the University of British Columbia in 1984. With Les Greenberg she developed emotionally focused therapy for couples and families, a psychotherapeutic approach based on attachment theory, and she founded the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy, which trains mental health professionals. Her books for therapists and general readers include Hold Me Tight and Love Sense. In 2016 the American Psychological Association's Society for Couple and Family Psychology named her Family Psychologist of the Year, and she was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada. She died in Victoria, British Columbia, in April 2024.