Attachment Theory and Psychotherapy Research - Editor's Introduction to a Special Section

While the rich body of attachment theory and research has inspired many psychotherapists, trainees and less experienced clinicians interested in attachment-informed work can often feel unsure about what processes are attachment-related and how to attend to them during therapy. Recent advances in attachment-informed psychotherapy research offer some practical guidance. Studies published over the last five years show that patients and therapists of different attachment classifications communicate in distinct ways during therapy sessions. In particular, Talia and his colleagues have introduced the Patient Attachment Coding System and the Therapist Attunement Scales, two measures that accurately predict patients’ and therapists’ Adult Attachment Interview and Reflective Functioning score based on the occurrence of distinct communication markers during therapy sessions. This paper discusses the implications of these recent studies for psychotherapy training and presents seven teaching points for supervisors and for the next generation of clinicians.

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Introduction to the special section on attachment theory and psychotherapy.

Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology ◽

10.1037/0022-006x.74.6.989 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 74 (6) ◽

pp. 989-993 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Joanne Davila ◽

Kenneth N. Levy

Keyword(s):

Attachment Theory ◽

Special Section

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Emotional availability: Critical questions and research horizons

Development and Psychopathology ◽

10.1017/s095457941100071x ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 125-129 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Robert N. Emde

Keyword(s):

Attachment Theory ◽

Clinical Experience ◽

Special Section ◽

Emotional Availability ◽

Clinical Interventions ◽

Critical Questions ◽

Developmental Variations ◽

And Training

AbstractBased on attachment theory, the construct of emotional availability and its assessment goes beyond attachment in important ways. Its origins in clinical experience and emotions research are discussed as well as the prospects for continuing advances in knowledge stimulated by the contributions in the Special Section. This is especially so in terms of developmental variations and the biological underpinnings of emotional availability. A major need and opportunity also exists concerning research related to psychopathology, clinical interventions, and training.

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Introduction to the Special Section on “The Role of Psychotherapy Research in Psychotherapy Training: Mutual Influences and Relations”

Research in Psychotherapy Psychopathology Process and Outcome ◽

10.4081/ripppo.2019.438 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 22 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Francesco De Bei ◽

Diego Rocco ◽

Silvia Salcuni

Keyword(s):

Special Section ◽

Psychotherapy Research ◽

Psychotherapy Training

Not available.

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Strategies of Co-operation: A Commentary

International Journal of Behavioral Development ◽

10.1177/016502549601900107 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 81-87

Author(s):

Peter K. Smith

Keyword(s):

Attachment Theory ◽

Cultural Context ◽

Genetic Similarity ◽

Similarity Theory ◽

Special Section ◽

Theory Approach ◽

Genetic Similarity Theory ◽

Individual Strategies ◽

Games Theory ◽

Insight Into

The papers in this special section illustrate the subtle interweaving of co-operation and competition as individual strategies, in primates and humans. These strategies can be strongly influenced by cultural context, and by individual/relational characteristics. The Charlesworth/LaFreniere paradigm provides opportunities for examining these, and could be analysed further in games theory terms; as can alternative paradigms. Friendship is one important relational characteristic, and its causal links to reciprocity might be examined further in terms of attachment theory and genetic similarity theory. An attachment theory approach may give insight into cultural differences in the co-operation/competition balance.

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