Attachment-based Therapy

Question 1

Attachment-based Therapy

Theory of Change

Answer 1

Change occurs through exploration of past and current relational attachments and trauma in the environment of a
healing, secure and reliable relationship.

Question 2

Attachment-based Therapy

Role of the Therapist

Answer 2

•Provide a sufficiently secure base to enable a person to explore emotional experiences of the past and the present
•Create a secure, accepting, caring, non-judgmental, and reliable environment where the patient can feel comfortable sharing their most traumatic experiences
and exploring the nature of the client’s attachment pattern

Question 3

Attachment-based Therapy

Treatment Goals

Answer 3

• Raise awareness of client’s problematic behavioral and emotional patterns, formed in early childhood as attempts to maintain attachment to primary caregivers
• Repair the capacity to regulate affects
• Resolve any emotional or social disruptions within the patient’s life
• Improve quality of attachment with others

Question 4

Attachment-based Therapy - Key Concepts

Attachment Behavior System

Answer 4

the process in which infants and caregivers have an organized pattern of signals and responses that leads to a development of a protecting trusting relationship. The emotional bond that
develops between adult romantic partners is partly a function of the same motivational system–the attachment behavioral system.

Question 5

Attachment-based Therapy - Key Concepts

Secure Attachment

Answer 5

the person has easy access to wide range of feelings and memories, positive and negative. Has a balanced view of parents and has worked through hurt and anger from the past. Has developed a strong sense of self and empathy for others.

Question 6

Attachment-based Therapy - Key
Concepts

Preoccupied/Anxious Attachment

Answer 6

The person is still embroiled with anger and hurt at parents.
They sometimes value intimacy to such an extent that
they become overly dependent on the attachment figure both past and present.They often recall role reversal in childhood and have hard time seeing their own responsibility in relationships. They dread abandonment.

Question 7

Attachment-based Therapy - Key
Concepts

Dismissive/Avoidant Attachment

Answer 7

The person dismisses the importance of love and connection–and the value of emotions in general. Often idealizes parents, but actual memories don’t corroborate. They dislike looking inward and often have a shallow, if any, self-reflection. They often are very independent, dismissive of their own emotionality and have difficulty tolerating the heightened emotions of others.

Question 8

Attachment-based Therapy - Key Concepts

Fearful/Avoidant Attachment

Answer 8

The person usually has a history of trauma and or loss. Similar to Dismissive/Avoidant they dismiss the importance of love and connection but usually out of fear or a belief that they are unworthy of love. They have a difficulty trusting others and may feel uncomfortable with emotional closeness.

Question 9

Attachment-based Therapy
Phases of Treatment/Interventions

Beginning

Answer 9

Attunement is the key intervention in the early stage and consists of forging
of a personal relationship between the therapist and the patient. The therapist provides a secure base by reliably demonstrating empathy and care. Collaboratively identifying client’s “attachment style,” that is, problematic behavioral and emotional patterns, formed in early childhood as attempts to maintain attachment to primary caregivers.

Question 10

Attachment-based Therapy
Phases of Treatment/Interventions

Middle

Answer 10

Disruptions are explored in the middle phase. Disruptions include those
in the early life of the client as well as those in current relationships, including the relationship with the therapist. Support client’s ability regulate
and express emotions in relationally difficult situations, teaching clients
to have a reflective stance toward themselves.

Question 11

Attachment-based Therapy
Phases of Treatment/Interventions

End

Answer 11

Repair occurs during the late middle phase and the end of treatment.
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,
the therapist helps create a new reality of the painful events for the patient in order to get rid of unwanted emotions and reactions.