Photo of Naomi Lutz, Marriage & Family Therapist in 90254, CA
Naomi Lutz
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254  (Online Only)
Do you ever feel like so many things and people need your attention that you want to hide and ignore them all? Do you ever give in to this feeling and stay in bed, unmotivated and overwhelmed? Does your mind feel like it is going at hyper speed and won't let you rest? Do day to day tasks seem unachievable? Are you constantly asking yourself "what's wrong with me?" At some point, because you are a fighter, you will get out of bed and start addressing the things and people that have been piling up. But is there still a voice in the back of your mind already worried about the next time you end up in bed feeling overwhelmed?
Do you ever feel like so many things and people need your attention that you want to hide and ignore them all? Do you ever give in to this feeling and stay in bed, unmotivated and overwhelmed? Does your mind feel like it is going at hyper speed and won't let you rest? Do day to day tasks seem unachievable? Are you constantly asking yourself "what's wrong with me?" At some point, because you are a fighter, you will get out of bed and start addressing the things and people that have been piling up. But is there still a voice in the back of your mind already worried about the next time you end up in bed feeling overwhelmed?
(310) 861-3160 View (310) 861-3160
Attachment-based Therapists

Is attachment-based therapy the same as attachment therapy?

Attachment-based therapy may be confused with what is called “attachment therapy” (sometimes called “holding therapy”), a discredited and dangerous approach to treating children with attachment disorders, autism, or other mental health concerns. Attachment therapy—not attachment-based therapy—may involve restraining a child, forcing eye contact, and other coercive or abusive techniques. None of these practices are used in attachment-based therapy and the two modalities are in no way related.

What should I expect from attachment-based therapy?

Attachment-based therapy is based on attachment theory, which posits that children’s early relationships with their caregivers strongly influence their ability to navigate the world later in life. Thus, adults who seek attachment-based therapy should expect to deeply explore their childhood, identifying the dynamics or experiences that disrupted their attachment and the steps necessary to overcome challenges that arose as a result. Parents and children should expect to explore the possible factors that disrupted the parent-child relationship and work toward restoring trust and connection.

How long does attachment-based therapy last?

Certain forms of attachment-based therapy, especially those designed for parents and children, last for a set number of sessions; for example, Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-Up, a specific attachment-based approach for young children who have undergone early adversity, unfolds over 10 one-hour sessions. When attachment-based therapy is practiced on adults or combined with other modalities, it may not last a specific length of time; clients may wish to ask prospective therapists how long they expect treatment to take.

Does attachment-based therapy work?

Most of the research on attachment-based therapy focuses on children and adolescents. Some of this research shows a positive effect, especially for attachment-based family therapy (ABFT). Other studies, however, have found that attachment-based therapy is no more effective than other approaches to childhood depression, anxiety, or suicidality. Less is known about the therapy’s efficacy on adult populations.