Proposal Title
Counseling as a Pathway to Earned-Secure Attachment Status
Location
Counselor Roles and Relationships (Session 1 Breakouts)
Proposal Track
Practice Report
Session Format
Presentation
Abstract
Attachment theory has emerged as a leading framework informing the study of individual development and interpersonal relationships. Previous research has documented connections between early caregiving experiences and the formation of working models of attachment that are carried into future relationships, impacting perception of the self and others across the lifespan. Given the well-documented physical, social, and mental health advantages associated with secure attachment status, the elucidation of mechanisms by which individuals can shift from an insecure working model of attachment to a secure pattern of functioning (termed earned security) is meaningful to clinical theory and practice. Counseling, by virtue of its ability to facilitate coherence, collaboration, and reflective functioning, represents a promising possible pathway to enduring earned security. The current author proposes a mixed methods study to address two questions: First, can counseling bring about shifts from insecure to earned-secure attachment status? Second, will individuals retain their earned-secure attachment status after the precipitating counseling relationship ends?
Keywords
attachment, earned security, reflective functioning, therapeutic relationship
Professional Bio
Sara Moe is a masters student in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Mercer University. She is currently completing her internship at Skyland Trail in Atlanta, GA. Her research interests include attachment, trauma and resilience, and multicultural issues.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Moe, Sara, "Counseling as a Pathway to Earned-Secure Attachment Status" (2020). Georgia Educational Research Association Conference. 6.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/gera/2020/2020/6
Included in
Counseling as a Pathway to Earned-Secure Attachment Status
Counselor Roles and Relationships (Session 1 Breakouts)
Attachment theory has emerged as a leading framework informing the study of individual development and interpersonal relationships. Previous research has documented connections between early caregiving experiences and the formation of working models of attachment that are carried into future relationships, impacting perception of the self and others across the lifespan. Given the well-documented physical, social, and mental health advantages associated with secure attachment status, the elucidation of mechanisms by which individuals can shift from an insecure working model of attachment to a secure pattern of functioning (termed earned security) is meaningful to clinical theory and practice. Counseling, by virtue of its ability to facilitate coherence, collaboration, and reflective functioning, represents a promising possible pathway to enduring earned security. The current author proposes a mixed methods study to address two questions: First, can counseling bring about shifts from insecure to earned-secure attachment status? Second, will individuals retain their earned-secure attachment status after the precipitating counseling relationship ends?
