It’s hard, isn’t it? To find the right words… to capture all that someone was, and meant, to so many. Sue Johnson—a beacon in the storm, a guide to countless souls adrift in their own emotional seas—has left us. After her valiant fight with cancer, she left this world on April 23, 2024, but not without leaving a mark so indelible, it reshapes us still.
Sue, oh, she was so many things! A world-renowned psychologist, a bestselling author, a beloved professor, and oh so much more. But to those who knew her, she was simply incredible. A partner, a mother, a gardener, a feminist, a tango dancer… Sue lived with a passion that infused everything she touched, from the rich soil of her garden to the complex emotional landscapes she navigated with her clients and students.
She spent her final years battling cancer, yet her spirit, her fire for life and for helping others, never dimmed. Her passion—for her work, for her family, friends, and yes, her dogs—was a beacon for all who knew her.
Sue’s Legacy: A Tapestry of Love, Learning, and Connection
Born on December 19, 1947, in Kent, England, Sue carried her roots with her, grounding her in a history that informed her future. From the University of Hull to the vast stretches of Canada where she settled and soared academically—achieving her master’s and doctorate at the University of British Columbia—she never stopped learning, growing, reaching further.
Sue’s journey through hundreds of therapy session tapes led to the birth of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), a model that today stands as the most empirically-validated approach in couple therapy globally. Her work didn’t just stay within the academic circles of the University of Ottawa; it blossomed into something that would touch families, individuals—people in all walks of life who needed to feel connected, understood, loved.
Her legacy? It’s vast—a myriad of books, articles, videos, podcasts… even a novel, Edgar & Elouise. Her first mainstream book, Hold Me Tight, alone has sold over a million copies and been translated into more than thirty languages, shaping relationship education worldwide.
And let’s not forget the Ottawa Couple and Family Institute, the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT), and her contributions that span continents and languages, teaching us all to better understand and value our emotional bonds.
Sue Taught Us How to Love
It’s hard, you know. Writing this… feeling this. Sue leaves behind her husband John, her children—Sarah, Tim, Emma—and her granddaughter, Amelie, along with countless friends and colleagues. To each, she was a touchstone, a lesson in how to live and love.
Legacy Lane remembers Sue Johnson not just for her monumental professional achievements but for the way she made each of us feel seen, heard, and valued. Her memory—a blessing, a guide, a painful yet beautiful reminder of what we can aspire to be.
In the words often shared between those who knew her best, Sue has indeed left the world a better place. As we mourn her passing, we hold on—fiercely—to the lessons she taught us about love, about connection, about the sheer, unadulterated power of being emotionally present. May her spirit dance on in the tango of life, in the embrace of those she taught, and in every heart she touched. Oh, Sue… how deeply you will be missed.
