Attachment Related Disorders
These disorders often result from a lack of a safe emotional attachment to a caregiver or parent. The individual may develop mechanisms in order to protect themselves, such as outbursts of anger, bullying, limited facial expressions, lack of affection, extreme clinginess, oppositional behaviors and limited fear of strangers. A poor parental attachment relationship has been shown to increase the likelihood of an adult becoming addicted to drugs and alcohol, requiring the professional treatment offered by The Beach Cottage at Seasons in Malibu.
Causes
Researchers believe that a lack of love and consistent caretaking contributes to the development of attachment related disorders. Inadequate caregiving can make a child feel abandoned, alone and uncared for, all of which can prevent that child from developing a healthy and secure emotional bond with their primary caretakers.
Young children form healthy relationships when their basic needs are consistently attended to, which builds a sense of trust between young children and their caretakers. Examples of inappropriate ongoing caretaking situations that place a child at greater risk of developing attachment disorders include:
- A baby whose diaper is soiled and not changed for many hours.
- A baby who is hungry and not fed for many hours.
- A baby who is crying and not attended to and who is not comforted when they are in distress.
- A baby who is crying, is not attended to, and is not comforted when in distress.
- An infant whose needs are met only some of the time due to inconsistent caregiving.
- A young child who only gains the attention of caretakers by acting up or being disruptive.
- A baby or young child who has had multiple primary caretakers, especially if the care provided is inconsistent or from unfamiliar people.
- Any situation in which the child has been physically or emotionally neglected or abused by primary caretakers or other adults.
The Seasons Integrative Approach to Healing Adult Attachment Trauma
Our specialized treatment for attachment-related disorders in adults focuses on re-patterning the nervous system and establishing a new internal model of relational security. Unlike standard counseling focused on parenting skills, our approach for the adult client utilizes advanced, trauma-informed therapies to help resolve the underlying attachment wounds. This involves creating a corrective, secure emotional environment with our clinical team, which becomes the foundation for exploring and changing deeply ingrained relational habits. We employ modalities like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to process past relational trauma and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to build the crucial skills in emotional regulation and interpersonal effectiveness necessary for forming healthy adult bonds. Our goal is to shift the individual from a state of relational defense to one of genuine connection, stability, and secure self-worth.
How to Treat
- Psychotherapy/Counseling. A mental health provider works with the child and parents in a variety of ways, sometimes one-on-one with the child, sometimes solely with caretakers, and sometimes in combination, to build skills and reduce problematic patterns of behavior.
- Family therapy. This treatment involves working together with the primary caretakers and child to develop ways to interact in healthy ways.
- Social skills intervention. This therapy teaches the child how to interact more appropriately with other similar–aged children in typical social settings. Parents usually are also involved to help the child use the skills they learn.
- Special education. If a child qualifies, these are school-based programs that help children learn skills to succeed both academically and socially.
- Parenting skills classes. In these sessions parents may learn more effective ways of managing the challenges of their child. This can be particularly beneficial because managing discipline for children with Reactive Attachment Disorder can be difficult.
Creating a Corrective, Safe Attachment Environment at the Beach Cottage
The physical and emotional environment of the Beach Cottage at Seasons in Malibu is fundamental to the success of treating attachment-related disorders. By removing the client from the chaotic, triggering environments that reinforce old, insecure patterns, we provide a consistent, non-judgmental, and predictable sanctuary. This stability is a direct counterpoint to the early inconsistency or neglect that created the dysregulated nervous system. The high ratio of one-on-one sessions ensures consistent, dedicated attention from a professional, caring team, offering the kind of reliable relational attunement that was missing in childhood. This sustained experience of safety and unconditional positive regard allows the client’s internal working models to slowly reorganize, fostering the development of secure self-attachment and a renewed capacity for healthy relationships.
If you or a loved one needs treatment for attachment related disorders, please call one of our caring, admissions counselors now for a free, no-obligation and confidential conversation about how The Beach Cottage at Seasons in Malibu can help.
Let’s Talk 424-235-2009
