Attachment theory as a framework for responsiveness in psychotherapy

This chapter uses attachment theory as a framework to begin the pathway to conceptualization of therapists' responsiveness to their clients by considering the responsiveness of parents to their infants. Research in developmental psychology on mother–infant attachment flourished following Ainsworth et al.'s groundbreaking strange situation paradigm. The chapter touches on the nature of early infant–parent interaction to highlight the centrality of responsiveness in infant–parent bonds. It considers key concepts in attachment theory that are applicable to responsiveness in psychotherapy: the provision of a secure base by parents and by therapists and internal working models and relationship representations. The chapter turns to consider attachment dynamics in psychotherapy, focusing on therapist responsiveness to client attachment needs through regulating therapeutic distance. It provides narrative illustrations that depict lack of responsiveness and appropriate responsiveness, as well as misattunement and attunement. Finally, the chapter presents relevant assessment tools for attachment processes and research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)