Enhancing Therapeutic Outcomes: Attachment-Based Compassion Therapy and Insecure Attachment
Enhancing Therapeutic Outcomes: Attachment-Based Compassion Therapy and Insecure Attachment
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Issue Date
2024-09-27
Authors
Cheney, Ash
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Abstract
This capstone project critically examines how Attachment-Based Compassion Therapy (ABCT) can address insecure attachment through a comprehensive review of attachment theory (specifically insecure attachment) and the intersections between psychological well-being (PWB) and self-compassion in adulthood. Understanding insecure attachment is crucial for therapists, as it impacts therapeutic outcomes, and because of its profound impact on PWB, interpersonal relationships, and its role in the intergenerational transmission of attachment patterns (Verhage et al., 2016). ABCT was developed to address the gap in compassion-based interventions (CBIs) by considering the specific cultural needs of the Spanish population (García-Campayo et al., 2016). The connection between insecure attachment and psychopathology is analyzed, and suggestions for therapists to consider when adapting the ABCT self-applied manual are made. The development and mechanisms of the ABCT protocol and self-applied manual are explored and analyzed, with a critical examination of the empirical studies on the ABCT protocol. Gaps in the existing research and opportunities for further research are highlighted, including the need for more empirical studies on ABCT and cultural considerations in therapy. Furthermore, recommendations for counselling practice emphasize the importance of a trauma-informed approach when utilizing ABCT in individual therapy. The capstone project concludes with recommendations for therapist training and reflexivity to enhance the effectiveness of ABCT in clinical settings.
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Keywords
attachment theory , compassion based interventions , insecure attachment , self-compassion , psychological well-being , trauma-informed practice
License
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States , openAccess