Attachment-based therapy

Attachment-based therapy applies to interventions or approaches based on attachment theory, originated by John Bowlby. Therapeutic approaches include working with individuals, couples, families, social systems, public health programs, and interventions specifically designed for adoption and foster care. Attachment theory has become a major scientific theory of biopsychosocial development with one of the broadest, deepest research lines in modern psychology and has and continues to spawn approaches to improving human health.

Attachment is a complex concept which continues to evolve. There are at least five attachment theories and several attachment assessments. These are generally in the developmental psychology or the social psychology disciplines which can differ in their understanding of relational problems and terminology describing the attachment concept. It's helpful to know which theory a therapy relies on, what part of the theory the therapy is addressing, and if the therapy is modifying the underlying theory. Failure to be clear about that has, in the past, led to coercive and harmful therapies allegedly based on attachment. Some attachment therapies utilize attachment assessments and some don’t.

There may be a difference between the terms attachment based/focused/influenced/related, although it is likely hard to draw distinct lines. Because attachment describes a fundamental and universal human biopsychosocial system, most modern therapeutic models incorporate attachment to at least some degree. Not every such therapy can be identified in this article.