Attachment & Relational Patterns
Not a DSM diagnosis; relational patterns underlie many conditions
Insecure attachment styles (anxious, avoidant, disorganized) that create recurring difficulties in relationships, emotion regulation, and sense of self. Often rooted in early caregiving experiences. Central concern in psychodynamic, EFT, and somatic approaches.
Prevalence: ~40-50% of adults have insecure attachment
44 Therapeutic Approaches
Sorted by evidence tier: guideline-recommended first, then RCT-supported, then emerging/limited evidence.
Guideline-Recommended (2)
Attachment
Child-Parent Psychotherapy
Alicia Lieberman · 1995
California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse: highest rating (1); SAMHSA NREPP listed
Family Systems
Circle of Security
Glen Cooper / Kent Hoffman / Bert Powell · 1998
Recognized in early intervention and child welfare guidelines; SAMHSA evidence-based registry; Head …
RCT-Supported (23)
Cognitive-Behavioral
Behavioral Couples Therapy
Neil Jacobson / Andrew Christensen · 1979
Attachment
EFT for Couples
Sue Johnson · 1988
Humanistic
Emotion-Focused Therapy
Leslie Greenberg · 1990
Humanistic
Interpersonal Process Group Therapy
Irvin Yalom · 1970
Psychoanalytic
Mentalization-Based Tx (MBT)
Fonagy / Bateman · 2004
Behavioral
PCIT
Sheila Eyberg · 1988
Humanistic
Person-Centered Therapy
Carl Rogers · 1951
Humanistic
Play Therapy
Virginia Axline · 1947
Psychoanalytic
Psychoanalysis
Sigmund Freud · 1895
Cognitive-Behavioral
Schema Therapy
Jeffrey Young · 1990
Psychoanalytic
Short-Term Psychodynamic
Davanloo / Sifneos / Malan · 1968
Psychoanalytic
Transference-Focused (TFP)
Otto Kernberg · 1999
Psychoanalytic
Analytical Psychology
Carl Jung · 1913
Attachment
Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy
Sue Johnson / Leslie Greenberg (adapted) · 2012
Humanistic
Filial Therapy
Bernard Guerney · 1964
Cognitive-Behavioral
Functional Analytic Psychotherapy
Robert Kohlenberg / Mavis Tsai · 1991
Family Systems
IFS
Richard Schwartz · 1995
Integrative
Imago Therapy
Harville Hendrix · 1988
Psychoanalytic
ISTDP
Habib Davanloo · 1980
Humanistic
Positive Psychotherapy
Nossrat Peseschkian · 1977
Somatic
Somatic Experiencing
Peter Levine · 1997
Attachment
Theraplay
Ann Jernberg · 1967
Somatic
Trauma-Sensitive Yoga
David Emerson / van der Kolk · 2005
Emerging / Limited Evidence (19)
Psychoanalytic
AEDP
Diana Fosha · 2000
Trauma-Focused
Attachment-Focused EMDR
Laurel Parnell · 2013
Somatic
Bioenergetic Analysis
Alexander Lowen / Wilhelm Reich · 1956
Contemplative
Buddhist Psychology / Contemplative Psychotherapy
Chögyam Trungpa / Jack Kornfield / Mark Epstein · 1974
Integrative
Coherence Therapy
Ecker / Hulley · 1996
Humanistic
Collaborative Therapy
Harlene Anderson / Harold Goolishian · 1988
Family Systems
Contextual Therapy
Ivan Boszormenyi-Nagy · 1973
Humanistic
Gestalt Therapy
Fritz & Laura Perls · 1951
Somatic
Hakomi
Ron Kurtz · 1980
Integrative
IPNB
Daniel Siegel · 1999
Psychoanalytic
Lacanian Psychoanalysis
Jacques Lacan · 1953
Somatic
NARM
Laurence Heller · 2012
Postmodern
Narrative Therapy
Michael White / David Epston · 1990
Somatic
Polyvagal-Informed Therapy
Porges / Dana · 2011
Psychedelic
PSIP
Saj Razvi · 2016
Expressive
Psychodrama
Jacob Moreno · 1921
Psychoanalytic
Relational Psychoanalysis
Stephen Mitchell / Lewis Aron · 1988
Social Justice
Relational-Cultural Therapy
Jean Baker Miller / Judith Jordan · 1976
Somatic
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
Pat Ogden · 1981
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