Attachment-based psychotherapy
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Attachment-based psychotherapy is a
Attachment-based psychotherapy combines the epidemiological categories of
When an individual does not have security in their relationships, they rely on themselves and their emotions, resulting in unhealthy behavior and cognitive functioning.[5]
Treatment
Therapists apply psychotherapy to patients with attachment disorders by applying a method of listening and reflecting on the experiences of the patient that caused their difficulty in making emotional connections. The primary treatment for a child with attachment-based trauma is having a reliable caregiver. The next most important treatment is having a psychotherapist.[6] The therapist's objective is to get the patient to open up to them so the patient can explore the experiences that are causing them to have dysfunctional relationships and to recreate the experience from the point of view of the therapist in order to resolve any emotional or social disruptions within the patient's life. According to Dan Hughes this process is known as “attunement, disruption, and repair”. The first part of the treatment, the attunement, consists of the forging of a personal relationship between the therapist and the patient, it is the first step for the patient toward creating healthy attachments. Attachment patients live stressful lives with very little emotional attachments to people, thus it is the therapist's job to create a secure, accepting, caring, non-judgmental, and reliable environment where the patient can feel comfortable sharing their most traumatic experiences.[7]
Once the patient and therapist have created a trust worthy and reliable relationship the therapist will probe the patient on any traumatic experiences that may have happened to them in their childhood and that connect to any disruptions in their lives at the time. The therapist pays special attention to the relationship between the patient and their parents because the lack of responsiveness of a parent early in a child development can lead to dysfunctional relationships later on in their life. The therapist may even ask the parent or caregiver to attend the therapy sessions in order to correct any complications in their relationship. The therapist will ask the parent to be present if they want to help the child and parent repair their relationship. The therapist will facilitate in their communication and have them share in an “affective/reflective” way. Having the parent in the room, such as in group therapy, may also help the patient face the root of their problems, which most psychologists believe stems from the parents. In this sense the parent or care giver will be taking on the role of the therapist in order to resolve issue that directly impact the parent's life
After the patient shares the traumatic events from their life and the therapist integrates them as their own, the therapist begins the repair of the patient. The repair stage of the therapy aims to alter the patient's current reactions to the events that cause them emotional distress by sharing their own interpretations of the event. By sharing their own subjective interpretation they hope create a new reality of the traumatic events for the patient in order to get rid of unwanted emotions.[7]
See also
- Attachment in children – Biological instinct
- Attachment in adults – Application of the theory of attachment to adults
- Attachment measures – Psychological technique
- Affectional bond – An attachment behavior one person has for another
- Human bonding – Process of development of a close, interpersonal relationship
- Object relations theory – School of psychoanalytic thought
- Reactive attachment disorder – Psychological disorder that can affect children
References
- ^ Slade, A. (1999) Attachment Theory and Research: Implications for the theory and practice of individual psychotherapy with adults. Handbook of Attachment: Theory, Research and Clinical Applications eds Cassidy, J. & Shaver, P. (1999) Guilford Press: New York and London. pp. 575–594
- ^ "Attachment Based Therapy Program". Newport Academy. Retrieved 2021-05-29.
- ^ a b c Holmes, J. (1996) Attachment, Intimacy, Autonomy: Using Attachment Theory in Adult Psychotherapy"
- ^ "Counseling for Secure Attachment — Modalities". Integrative Psychotherapy & Trauma Treatment. Retrieved 2021-05-29.
- ^ "Treatment | Trauma-Informed Therapist". Attachment and Trauma Network. Retrieved 2021-05-29.
- ^ a b c d Hughes, D. (2010) Attachment and Human Development"