Attachment Theory

I'm well versed in attachment theory through clinical training, research, and personal therapy. Attachment theory is a foundational piece of my integrative and relational approach.

Attachment therapy submits that the bonds between caregivers and children in early life significantly influence emotional and relational patterns throughout an individual's life. This approach aims to address and repair disruptions in these early attachment relationships. It emphasizes the therapeutic relationship as a secure base from which clients can explore & understand their attachment patterns. This trusting relationship with the therapist helps clients heal past attachment disruptions.

I have extensive experience in working with parents and families through an attachment lens. I understand that a strong, safe relationship, rooted in connection, is the key to lasting change, and emboldens you to build the life you want.

Our attachments in childhood play a significant role in how we create relationships in adulthood. I use my knowledge about attachment to treat clients and to help them understand how their decisions are impacted by the attachments from their childhood.

Early childhood experiences shape our personalities and strategies for relating to other people. When these early experiences with primary caregivers do not feel secure, attuned, and safe, children develop strategies for coping that later can become maladaptive in adult relationships. I can offer support in transforming these early attachment wounds so that your adult relationships are not at the mercy of old patterns that no longer serve you.

While I use different modalities in my work, attachment theory is my foundation. I believe that we are all wired for connection and need it for survival - as a result, our relationships are essential, yet we often have relational wounds that can make it hard for us to connect, all the way down to the nervous system level. As such, it is central to our well-being to be able to explore and understand our patterns and learn to attend to those deep needs.

How we relate to others is a key aspect of mental health. Some say that relationship health is mental health! I find it crucial to keep relationships and community in mind as we work through a client's concerns.

We often show up in adult relationships as a result of the way our primary caregivers showed up for us in our early years. Understanding our attachment styles can be insightful information to help strengthen our adult relationships. Additionally, creating a strong therapeutic alliance with a therapist can help in working towards a more secure attachment style. My hope is to provide a healthy model for secure attachment in my clients.

I work collaboratively with partners, families and individuals who want to foster connection and form deeper, more loving relationships. I also work with parents to identify their struggles with parenting (be it a one time issue or an on going parenting struggle) and develop a plan to support the entire family system.

Our early experiences with attachment and bonding shape the way we relate to others throughout our lives. If you're struggling with attachment issues, such as fear of abandonment, difficulty trusting others, or feeling disconnected from yourself or others, my approach could be well suited to working on these issues. I offer therapy that focuses on understanding and healing attachment wounds, which is correlated with healthier, more fulfilling relationships.

We all need personal connection in our lives, and the way we engage with others is heavily influenced by how we grew up in our families of origin. If your early family life was dysfunctional, abusive, or neglectful, you will benefit from re-examining core beliefs and exploring ways to increase authenticity, intimacy and mutual satisfaction in relationships.

Working with attachment theory means I pay close attention to how a person shows up in relationships which includes strangers.

Attachment theory focuses on the how we have learned to experience ourselves and others through the relationships that we were raised in, and can help to inform who some people struggle with trust, intimacy and communication in intimate partner relationships as well as how these struggles may be improved through therapy and couples therapy. Attachment theory is closely related to both family systems and object relations models of psychotherapy.

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.

I use attachment theory to explore clients' relationship dynamics, examining how early attachment patterns shape their present experiences. Additionally, we look at the self through a Jungian, archetypal lens, alongside Internal Family Systems (IFS), to explore the various parts of the psyche. This integrative approach allows for deeper self-awareness and healing, helping clients understand both their relational experiences and their inner world more profoundly.

I integrate attachment theory to help clients understand how early relationships impact their current emotional and relational patterns. By exploring attachment styles, we uncover the roots of trust, intimacy, and dependency issues. My approach aims to heal attachment wounds, foster secure relationships, and enhance emotional regulation. Through this understanding, clients can develop healthier connections and build more fulfilling, stable relationships in their personal and professional lives.

Rebuild trust and the relationship with yourself and others that you deserve

Attachment theory is central to my approach for folks looking to work on communication, relationships, trauma, and better understanding themselves.

When using attachement theory, I take a look at how your environment, including your relationships with your parent(s) and primary care giver(s), played a role in how you move through your current relationships. Research shows that how you and your primary caregiver bonded plays a role in your adult romantic relationships. By recognizing this and behaviors that are currently not serving you, we can make lasting changes in how you relate to others.