Navigating relationships can be challenging for anyone, but for individuals with an avoidant attachment style, expressing needs and emotions can feel particularly overwhelming. When avoidance becomes a core defense mechanism, individuals may find it difficult to communicate openly, advocate for themselves, or even recognize their own emotional needs. This can create a cycle of isolation and dissatisfaction in relationships, leaving individuals feeling unheard and disconnected.

Anxious attachment, a term rooted in attachment theory, describes a style of relating to others characterized by a deep-seated fear of abandonment and rejection. This attachment style often develops in childhood and can significantly influence one's adult relationships. Understanding anxious attachment and its implications is crucial for fostering healthier connections and personal well-being.

Sex therapy is often the first step that many couples take in hopes of fostering deeper connection and satisfaction in their relationship as a whole. But, it isn’t always the most successful or sustainable route to take. As a couples therapist, I've worked with many individuals and couples who’ve ultimately discovered that the source of their disconnection goes deeper than sex.

If you were hurt physically or emotionally as a child, you might develop symptoms like anxiety, depression, hypervigilance, and difficulty or an inability to connect with others.

It’s absolutely possible to find a secure, connected, emotionally safe relationship with a friend, family member, or partner.

Attachment theory primarily came out of research between infants and caregivers, so what does attachment style have anything to do with your adult relationships, you may ask?

You’ve seen “attachment” show up more and more in social media, but what does it really mean?