What is Attachment Therapy?

Research confirms what many therapists and clients have known for a long time, namely that the therapeutic relationship between therapist and client is one of the strongest predictors of therapeutic outcome. 

As in any relationship, feelings may arise (anger, disappointment, unmet needs) within the context of the therapeutic relationship. When these feelings surface, a unique opportunity occurs among the therapist and client to understand what is coming up in the context of past childhood dynamics and disappointments, and how those formed a template for relational experiences, including with oneself.  

I bring my years of training and practice with this developmentally focused therapy and integrate this framework into the trauma modalities needed to process, integrate, and repair childhood and adult relational wounds.

Oftentimes, a client comes to therapy in a crisis with experiences such as anxiety, depression, a life transition, the death of a loved one, a move, or work problems. Sometimes, a client enters therapy because of feeling stuck or numb with the realization that events from the past are somehow influencing one’s current life. For example:

• Entering a love relationship, immediately anticipating loss, and protecting against that by distancing 

• Entering therapy already feeling, “I am too much,” pushing or poking others until the expected outcome happens, and then feeling both relief and rejection

• Overworking to please or to feel worthy 

• Disempowering oneself or expressing verbal self-criticism as a way to illicit reassurance and connection from others or to avoid anticipated criticism

• Feeling overwhelmed and confused each time a warm and supportive supervisor wants to meet 

• Extreme discomfort being alone

Integrating Psychodynamic Therapy with EMDR and IFS-Informed EMDR

Our therapists have training and receive ongoing consultation in the following:

• Child, adolescent and adult development 

• Family and intergenerational dynamics

• Social and cultural issues that affect nervous system responses

• Attachment

• The role of chronic or single-incident stressor(s) in shaping the nervous system

• Polyvagal theory & practice 

• How to pace therapy according to clients’ nervous system responses

• Expertise in EMDR and IFS-Informed EMDR

Symptoms and triggers are the manifestation of deeper root causes. For lasting change to endure, the root causes of symptoms and behaviors must be a part of the processing. The symptoms are anxiety, depression, anger, avoidance, perfectionism, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, phobias, addictions, and harsh self-criticism. 

The holistic therapy we provide are informed by the experience of our clients’ racial, cultural, ethnic, economic, generational, religious, and geographical histories. These factors provide a way to understand a person’s life experiences, the adaptive coping mechanisms used to survive maladaptive experiences, and the impacts of social forces such as immigration, poverty, racism, and homophobia on intergenerational and individual development. 

In our practice, we offer integration of relational/attachment processing into EMDR and IFS-Informed EMDR therapies. 

Please read the therapy pages on EMDR and IFS-Informed EMDR to better understand how we integrate all of these modalities into one seamless, safe, and collaborative experience.