What is ‘attachment’?
Attachment refers to the emotional bonds that form in early childhood based on our experiences with our caregivers. The quality of these relationships set up patterns of relating to ourselves and others which typically form by the time we are 2 years old. These patterns then go on to influence how we form adult relationships, whether they are romantic or friendships.
Attachment theory has some of the strongest research and evidence base within the field of psychology and psychotherapy. There is a strong link between dysfunctional attachment in childhood and poor outcomes later in life. It has been shown that what happens in the early process of attachment formation significantly effects areas of self-experience, emotional regulation and capacity for intimacy.
What is an attachment disturbance?
An attachment disturbance refers to some difficulty in self-experience, emotional regulation and/or capacity for intimacy which has its roots in the early attachment relationship. These dysfunctions have been correlated with many issues later in life include substance abuse, personality disorders, anxiety, depression, PTSD and dissociative disorders.
How does attachment disturbance impact daily life?
Some signs of attachment disturbance include:
Difficulty maintaining healthy relationships
Constant worry about making others happy
Difficulty trusting others or getting close
Fear of getting close
Being excessively clingy with others
Difficulty feeling and/or expressing emotion
Obsessive preoccupation and rumination about relationship
Excessive need for approval
Extreme fear of abandonment/rejection/criticsm
Emotional dysregulation (too much and/or too litte)
Treatment: a “three pillars” approach
So what can we do about it? At Warrnambool Counselling and Psychotherapy we offer an integrative treatment known as the “Three Pillars” approach to attachment repair. This treatment is based on the work of Dr Dan Brown and colleagues from Harvard Medical School. This treatment has been designed to target specific attachment disturbances and to repair those disturbances through the use of the therapeutic relationship and the use of the imagination.
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The First Pillar: Collaboration
We develop a tailored therapy plan which is a shared, mutually negotiated partnership. We learn to improve communication and cooperation by working together on problems relevant to each client.
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The Second Pillar: Metacognitive Skill
We foster a range of skills for developing greater awareness of one’s thoughts, feeling and behaviour and understanding how these influence one another.
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The Third Pillar: Ideal Parent Figure
A method to effectively development positive, secure attachment. Clients learn to evoke and engage with the positive qualities of imaginary attachment figures and through repetition internalise those positive states of mind.