Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy (PACT)

PACT therapy, or Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy, is a form of relationship therapy that focuses on understanding and addressing the underlying attachment and neurobiological patterns in couples. We dig deep into your attachment styles and incorporate somatic and cutting edge neuroscience into couples work.

Developed by Dr. Stan Tatkin, PACT is a fusion of attachment theory, developmental neuroscience, and arousal regulation. PACT has a reputation for effectively treating the most challenging couples. Your experience during a PACT session may differ somewhat from what you would experience in other forms of couple therapy. Contact me to learn more.

A PACT couple session may differ somewhat from what clinicians and couples experience in other forms of couple therapy. A PACT therapist’s focus on moment-to-moment shifts in a client’s face, body, and voice, and each partner’s active involvement in paying close attention to these as a couple. A PACT therapist creates experiences similar to those troubling a relationship and helps the couple work through them in real time during the session. PACT sessions often exceed the 50-minute hour

In PACT, we assume no malintent and focus on nurturing each partner’s protective strategies. We’ll observe how you interact during stressful moments and uncover how these protective strategies impact your relationship. You’ll learn how to respond to your partner with empathy and deeper understanding, rather than defensiveness. This process creates a stronger, more secure bond, helping you navigate challenges with greater emotional awareness, building lasting intimacy and connection.

PACT is the primary modality through which I conceptualize my work with couples. PACT blends contemporary neuroscience with attachment theory. With some understanding on how our caregivers taught was what romantic love looks like is emotional work but also incredibly empowering. Healing core attachment wounds enables you to participate in a healing relationship from the most core parts of the self. Also, the brain hacks provided by PACT are invaluable.

Level I trained with Stan Tatkin at PACT Institute 2023

I have extensive training in PACT (was trained in Level I + II) and am part of an ongoing case consultation group to further hone my skills and craft. PACT is very comprehensive and pays a lot of attention to attachment styles, emotional regulation, and brain science. Given that I've been trained in PACT, Gottman, and EFT, I methodically use the best parts of each modality based on what my couples are bringing and am struggling with.

PACT stands for Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy and it has been developed by Stan Tatkin, PsyD. Its goal is to integrate mind-body functioning and give couples the tools to create a safe, “secure-functioning” relationships. PACT has been developed thanks to exciting, cutting-edge research in three areas: Neuroscience, Attachment Theory & Human Arousal.

I am a Level 1 trained PACT clinician (soon to be Level 2 in Fall 2023!) I work with couples in three major tenets of the PACT model: attachment/Family of Origin, regulation, and neuroscience.

PACT combines information on the human arousal system & different attachment styles, and uses this information to help couples (and individuals) better communicate their wants and needs to others.

I am a PACT level 1 trained couples therapist. PACT is a psycho-biological approach to couples therapy that combines understanding neurology, attachment systems, and arousal to get to the process underlying communication difficulties.

I have completed Level 1 training in PACT.

I am a level 2 trained PACT therapist and am registered for Level 3 final training beginning in July 2022

The goal of PACT couples counseling is to create a secure functioning relationship where both parties are committed to operating as a "we/us" rather than two individuals at odds. Pact uses neuroscience and attachment theory of relationships. I will focus on moment-to-moment shifts in your face, body, and voice, and ask you to pay close attention to these as a couple. We will create experiences similar to those troubling your relationship and help you work through them in session.

PACT looks at what’s really happening in your brain and your emotions when you fight. If you were in a couples therapy session and you were stuck, your therapist might slow you down (we all know how sped up and out of control it can get when you’re in conflict) and help point out what’s happening with your body and your emotions.

I am PACT level 1 trained. This informs the way I work with partners, as I look to each of you to be experts on each other. We work to create secure functioning within the relationship to grow towards your relationship goals.

I have been a student of the Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy (PACT) principles since 2018. I have taken over 50 hours of advanced continuing education coursework on PACT and in attachment theory, developmental neuroscience, and arousal regulation.

The PACT couples therapy approach pulls from attachment theory, developmental neuorscience and arousal regulation. The sessions tend to be longer in length resulting in less frequency over time meeting with the therapist. Sessions typically look different than most other couples therapy frameworks. The therapist looks for micro expressions from each partner and creates situations for the couple where they can learn to relate with each other differently in real time.