Attachment Theory

Attachment theory is a psychological, evolutionary and ethological theory concerning relationships between humans. The most important tenet is that young children need to develop a relationship with at least one primary caregiver for normal social and emotional development. (Wikipedia) Those that do not develop this strong attachment may find various psychological, psycho-sexual and/or interpersonal difficulties in their lives. Understanding their attachment can help resolve issues.

I utilize attachment theory in my practice to help you understand the bond with your newborn, addressing any attachment challenges or disruptions. By exploring early experiences and attachment styles, I guide you in fostering secure attachments, promoting healthy bonding, and resolving issues like postpartum depression or anxiety, ultimately supporting the parent-child relationship.

The roots of attachment influence our relationships, self esteem, and give us a secure base from which we live. Understanding our own attachment and how it impacts us is a key focus of therapeutic work.

As babies, we come into the world quickly forming relationships with our caregivers. Those caregivers can either be a source of safety and connection or a distant or harsh parent. As children dependent on our caregivers we begin to create safety for ourselves in any way we can. As we grow older we carry these ways of survival with us which plays out in our adult relationships. These may manifest in us as codependency, low self-esteem, and people-pleasing.

Exploring how attachment with caregivers early in our lives can be fertile ground for gaining new understanding to present day relationships.

Understanding attachment theory and add in the PloyVagal theory you get a sense of greater ways to regulate yourself in and out of your relationships. The patterns you learned in the styles of attachment in your multigenerational linage can play a large part in the way your body responds to conflict and connection. Over time we get to explore and heal these old patterns to bring on more thrive in your life.

I am trained in mentalization-based treatment (MBT), a modality based on the work of Peter Fonagy which is scientifically proven to improve the quality of attachments.

This is my greatest area of mental health training. I worked for five years in early childhood development with attachment specialists, have a graduate certificate in infant mental health, have been endorsed at two levels in infant mental health practice (Level II and Level III), and was an infant mental health therapist for three years. With this training I can help you understand yourself in the context of experiences across your lifespan, and help you experience healing in relationships.

Like or not, we are deeply imprinted by the quality of our earliest experiences with our parents or caregivers. Clearly identifying how those relationships have shaped us is crucial in beginning any therapy. Deciding on ways to mend the wounds that exist for the majority of us is most of the journey. They say "I married my father/mother" for a reason--and no amount of "insight" can change it--only deep healing work can.

Like Family Systems Theory, I use Attachment Theory as a way to help clients process their relationships to their parents and their partners. This approach I use less frequently, but it is something I employ when there is significant anxiety around relationships with parents or partners.

Our relationships are so important in shaping our lives. The more we understand about our attachment style and how to navigate our relationships, the more we equip ourselves to lead fulfilling lives.

Attachment therapy aims to help individuals who have issues with relationships stemming from childhood experiences such as neglect, abuse, or trauma. These experiences can affect a person's ability to form healthy and secure connections in adulthood, leading to problems like anxiety, depression, and difficulty in forming and maintaining close relationships. The goal is to help individuals develop a more secure attachment style, leading to better relationships and overall emotional well-being.

The basis of my therapy is rooted in attachment. First, in the therapy space it is critical that I facilitate and foster a safe, supportive environment so that we can explore personal attachment style and relationship history through an attachment lens. I believe that in order to have healthy relationships with ourselves and others, that can start in the therapy space by creating a healthy therapeutic relationship. I utilize a somatic, nervous system informed approach to safety building.

Attachment is a universal experience and influences so much of how we relate to others. My work previously with children with neurodevelopmental concerns focused heavily on creating healthy attachment with caregivers to promote development. As such, I have experience navigating areas that are strengths of caregiver attachments as well as areas that may have not met the needs of a client and are subsequently affecting later relationships with others or self.

I became enamored with Attachment Theory in graduate school including joining a group of psychologists studying Daniel Siegel's book The Developing Mind (one of the earliest books on interpersonal neurobiology). Afterwards I sought out trainings from Daniel Siegel as well as others like Carol George and Diana Fosha for years. Attachment theory is the foundation of my approach to therapy, particularly the centrality of safety in relationships in order to explore, expand, and face challenges.

Babies depend on their caregivers for survival. Parents can anticipate their infant's needs and respond most of the time (secure attachment) or they can not respond or respond inconsistently which creates panic in the infant (anxious/avoidant attachment). By working with me I hope I respond to your needs and anticipate your needs thus creating a secure attachment. We use that bond so you can safely explore the world and come back to a safe base.

Attachment theory has been a very useful tool in describing the interactions in all relationships, especially those that involve behavioral difficulties between parents and children. Having worked in children's mental health for over 11 years, Attachment Theory has been the main foundation for my work during this time.

I have taken courses in Gottman, Attachment methodology such as EFT.