Attachment and Relational Therapy in BC: Bringing the Relational and Attachment into Therapy

Therapy is often seen as a place we can go to talk about what's bothering us or process past experiences.

Something that often isn't understood about therapy is the importance and the impact of the therapeutic relationship.

Studies have found that the strength of the therapeutic relationship actually predicts symptomatic improvement (Falkenström, Granström & Holmqvist, 2013). This highlights the importance of the relationship between client and therapist.

When working from therapeutic modalities that are attachment-based or relational, the relationship between client and therapist is part of the therapy.

Rather than solely talking about relational patterns from a distance, relational therapists gently explore them as they arise in the room between the client and therapist.

This moment-to-moment awareness creates opportunities for new relational experiences - especially when misunderstandings are repaired.

The client and therapist are able to explore the relational dynamic and can try out new ways of relating that may not have felt safe enough in other relationships.

Relational therapy is a way for clients to have new experiences in relationship with others.

Over time, clients may:

• Feel safer expressing anger without losing connection

• Receive empathy where they once expected dismissal

• Practice authenticity instead of performance

  
  

These lived experiences begin to reshape internal working models of the self and the world.

Relational therapy invites a profound shift:

From “What’s wrong with me?”

To “What happened between us?”

And ultimately, “What can happen differently here?”

It recognizes that connection is not just comforting - it can be transformative.

If you are interested in Attachment and Relational Therapy in BC, please feel free to reach out to book a consult HERE.

Falkenström, F., Granström, F., & Holmqvist, R. (2013). Therapeutic alliance predicts symptomatic improvement session by session. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 60(3), 317–328.