Attachment and Relationships: Why It Matters in Love and Connection

Have you ever wondered why some relationships feel safe and steady, while others feel like an emotional rollercoaster? The answer often comes down to attachment—the way we connect, trust, and seek closeness with the people we love.

Attachment isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a pattern rooted in our earliest relationships that continues to show up in our adult lives. If you’ve ever thought:

• “Why do I shut down when things get hard?”

• “Why do I get anxious when I don’t hear back from my partner right away?”

• “Why do I feel like I’m giving more than I receive?”

—then you’re brushing up against attachment in real time.

The Four Attachment Styles

While everyone is unique, research has shown that people tend to fall into four broad attachment styles:

1. Secure Attachment – Feeling safe to love and be loved, with trust that needs will be met.

2. Anxious Attachment – Worrying about rejection or abandonment, craving reassurance.

3. Avoidant Attachment – Valuing independence, sometimes pulling away when things feel too close.

4. Disorganized Attachment – Longing for connection but fearing it at the same time, often tied to past trauma.

It’s important to note: attachment styles are not life sentences. They are patterns, and patterns can shift. Therapy creates the space to notice them, understand them, and—most importantly—reshape them.

Why Attachment Matters in Relationships

When couples come to therapy, attachment often sits at the heart of their challenges. Arguments about chores, money, or parenting may really be about deeper fears: Do you see me? Can I trust you? Will you show up for me?

That’s why I work from an attachment-based perspective with individuals, couples, and families. Healing starts when we stop trying to “win” arguments and instead turn toward each other with curiosity, compassion, and honesty.

A Gentle Invitation

If you find yourself repeating the same relationship struggles—or if you and your partner long for more connection but feel stuck in conflict—therapy can help. Together, we can look beneath the surface, explore the patterns shaping your connection, and create new ways of relating that feel secure, supportive, and lasting.

If this resonates with you, I’d love to walk alongside you. You don’t have to figure this out alone—healing and secure connection are possible.