How Attachment-Based Therapy Can Transform Your Relationships
What is Attachment-Focused Therapy
Attachment-Based Therapy is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on the importance of a secure attachment bond between individuals, particularly between a child and their primary caregiver. The approach is based on the belief that attachments with caregivers, usually with parents, are formed early in life, and those attachments can effect behavior as adults. It is rooted in attachment theory, which suggests that the quality of early childhood attachments shapes our sense of self, emotional regulation, and relationships with others.
The therapy is typically used to treat individuals who have experienced trauma or disruptions in early attachment relationships. (1) The therapist works with the individual to explore and understand how these early experiences may impact their current emotional and relational difficulties. The therapist also helps the individual to develop healthier ways of relating to others by fostering a secure attachment bond with the therapist as a safe and supportive figure.
Attachment-based therapy can help individuals develop more secure attachment patterns and improve their relationships, leading to increased emotional regulation, reduced anxiety and depression, and improved overall well-being.
Understanding Attachment Theory
Attachment-based therapy is a therapeutic approach that addresses attachment-related issues. Attachment-based therapy is an approach to therapy that specifically targets thoughts, feelings, communications, behaviors, and interpersonal exchanges that clients have learned either to suppress and avoid or to amplify and overemphasize because of early attachment experiences (2).
Attachment-based therapy aims to strengthen the attachment bond between parents and children through various activities, such as touch therapy and holding sessions, where parents can express their emotions in a safe and supportive environment. Attachment-based therapy can help prevent or mitigate these problems by promoting secure attachment. Psychiatrist John Bowlby developed it in the 1960s. The therapy is based on the idea that when a child is separated from their primary caregiver, it can cause extreme distress and lead to psychological issues in the future. Bowlby's work led him to identify four distinct attachment styles: secure attachment, anxious attachment, avoidant attachment, and disorganized attachment. (3)
Who Can Benefit from Attachment-Based Therapy?
Attachment-based therapy can benefit individuals who have experienced attachment difficulties, which may include:
Children who have experienced neglect, abuse, or trauma.
Adults who have experienced relationship difficulties, such as divorce or separation.
Individuals who struggle with emotional regulation, anxiety, or depression.
Couples who wish to improve their communication and connection.
Adopted or foster children who may have experienced disruptions in their early attachment relationships.
Individuals who have experienced complex trauma, such as repeated or prolonged abuse.
Attachment-based therapy can help individuals develop more secure attachment patterns and improve their relationships, leading to increased emotional regulation, reduced anxiety and depression, and improved overall well-being.
Some common issues that may be addressed in Attachment-based Therapy include difficulty forming and maintaining close relationships, struggles with emotional regulation and self-esteem, and patterns of insecure attachment and emotional distance.
Individuals seeking a deeper understanding of their emotional and relational difficulties and who are motivated to change their attachment patterns may benefit from Attachment-based Therapy.
Techniques in Attachment-Based Therapy
Attachment-Based Therapy is a type of psychotherapy that uses various techniques to address and improve attachment patterns and emotional regulation. Some of the methods commonly used in Attachment-Focused Therapy include:
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). EFT is a humanistic type of attachment-based therapy that focuses on helping individuals identify and express their emotions healthily, to improve their relationships and relationship styles to improve bonding and attachment. (4)
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). It is a family-based treatment approach that aims to enhance the quality of the parent-child relationship and improve the child's attachment to their parent. PCIT focuses on teaching parents new skills and strategies to manage their child's behavior while strengthening the parent-child bond through positive interactions and communication. By improving the attachment relationship, PCIT can promote better emotional regulation and mental health outcomes for both the child and the parent. (5)
Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting (MBCP): MBCP is an attachment-based therapy that helps parents cultivate mindfulness and acceptance during pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting. (6)
Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT). ABFT is a family-based therapy that helps families identify and resolve attachment-related issues and mend any fractures in the attachment bond by improving communication and understanding. (7)
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). DBT helps individuals develop skills for managing emotions and relationships, focusing on improving attachment and interpersonal functioning for patients with borderline personality disorder. (8)
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). TF-CBT is a form of therapy that helps individuals, children, and families with a history of trauma improves their attachment relationships by addressing trauma-related symptoms and improving coping skills. (9)
Overall, Attachment-Based Therapy aims to help individuals develop greater self-awareness, emotional regulation, and healthier attachment patterns and relating to others.
Benefits and Efficacy of Attachment-Based Therapy
Attachment-based therapy (ABT) has been shown to have several benefits and be an effective form of psychotherapy for various mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship issues. Here are some of the benefits and efficacy of ABT:
It improves attachment bonds between individuals, leading to improved communication, emotional connection, and overall satisfaction.
Decreased Anxiety and greater emotional resilience.
Individuals develop more positive self-worth and self-esteem, which can lead to decreased depressive symptoms.
It can be effective for individuals who have experienced trauma.
ABT has been shown to have long-lasting results, with improvements in attachment style and relationship satisfaction continuing after therapy.
Supportive for Families. It is often used in family therapy, as it can effectively improve parent-child relationships and reduce family conflict.
How to Find the Right Therapist for Attachment-based Therapy
There are licensed therapists who specialize in Attachment-based therapy. Online directories, such as Psychology Today or Zencare, allow you to search for therapists by specialty, location, and other criteria.
It's essential to remember that finding the right therapist for Attachment-based therapy may take some time and effort. However, we at Phoenix Rising Centers are here for you to help you navigate your attachment issues in a safe and encouraging environment.
Summary:
Attachment-based Therapy can be beneficial for individuals who have experienced disruptions or trauma in their early attachment relationships with primary caregivers, are seeking a deeper understanding of their emotional and relational difficulties, and are motivated to change their attachment patterns.
You may seek a mental health provider if it already affects your daily life and relationship with others. There are many online/offline mental health providers available that can provide what best fits you.
References:
What Is Attachment-Based Therapy?. [online] choosingtherapy.com. Available at: https://www.choosingtherapy.com/attachment-based-therapy/ [Accessed 1 Jan. 1970].
Attachment-Based Psychotherapy in Practice. [online] apa.org. Available at: https://www.apa.org/pubs/videos/4310926?tab=2#:~:text=Attachment%2Dbased%20therapy%20is%20an,because%20of%20early%20attachment%20experiences. [Accessed 1 Jan. 1970].
3. Attachment-Based Therapy | Psychology Today. [online] psychologytoday.com. Available at: https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/therapy-types/attachment-based-therapy [Accessed 1 Jan. 1970].
Emotionally Focused Therapy: Definition, Techniques, and Efficacy. [online] verywellmind.com. Available at: https://www.verywellmind.com/emotionally-focused-therapy-for-distressed-couples-2303813 [Accessed 1 Jan. 1970].
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy: A Primer for Child Welfare Professionals. [online] childwelfare.gov. Available at: https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubPDFs/factsheets_pcit.pdf [Accessed 1 Jan. 1970].
Duncan, Larissa G.. and Shaddix, C. (2015). Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting (MBCP): Innovation in Birth Preparation to Support Healthy, Happy Families. [online] ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5645068/#:~:text=The%20Mindfulness-Based%20Childbirth%20and%20Parenting%20programme%20can%20be,relationships%20and%20parenting%20sensitivity%2C%20and%20enhancing%20child%20well-being. [Accessed 1 Jan. 1970].
.Overview | Center for Family Intervention Science | Drexel University. [online] drexel.edu. Available at: https://drexel.edu/familyintervention/attachment-based-family-therapy/overview/ [Accessed 1 Jan. 1970].
Bernheim, D., Bernheim, D. and Gander, M., Gander, M. and Keller, F., Keller, F. and Becker, M., Becker, M. and Lischke, A., Lischke, A. and Mentel, R., Mentel, R. and Freyberger, H. and Buchheim, A. (2019). The role of attachment characteristics in dialectical behavior therapy for patients with borderline personality disorder. [online] pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30667573/ [Accessed 1 Jan. 1970].
Trauma–Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Children and Adults. [online] goodtherapy.org. Available at: https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/types/trauma-focused-cognitive-behavioral-therapy [Accessed 1 Jan. 1970].