Present information to the participants around attachment styles. Some salient points to make would be:

• Attachment is the connectedness or feeling of being emotionally close to someone.
• It is a major component of love. 
  
• We learn this as children, primarily with our mother and father (or whoever brought us up). 
  
• There are two essential types of attachment: secure attachment and insecure attachment. 
  
• Secure attachment can be characterised by the qualities of responsiveness, positive regard, and nurturance. 
  
• Childhood sexual abuse often requires children to adapt to the untrustworthiness or unreliability of adults around them, which in turn can effect trust, and the capacity for secure attachment. 
  
• Attachment styles are changeable.
  

Utilising the handout 'Attachment styles' [Page 34 of Participant workbook], provide the following information on the four attachment styles that have been identified:

Attachment style #1: Securely attached 

• High self-esteem and not afraid of closeness. 
  
• Willing to change, overlook others faults.
  
• Resolve conflict appropriately. 
  
• Trusting, relaxed, always in the relationship. 
  
• Healthy attachment gives a sense of safety and decreases anxiety. 
  

Attachment style #2: Insecure: Dismissive 

• Fearful of emotional dependency. 
  
• Limits ability for intimacy. 
  
• Prone to distance in relationships. 
  
• Doesn’t seek help, or alienates potential helpers.  
  

Attachment style #3: Insecure: Pre-occupied 

• Low trust and high dependency. 
  
• Clingy, dependent, worrisome. 
  
• Loss and abandonment fears. 
  
• Conflict is interpreted as less love. 
  

Attachment style #4: Insecure: Fearful 

• Negative view of both self and partner. 
  
• Combination of both characteristics 'dismissive' and 'pre-occupied'. 
  
• Mixed feelings about relationships (the person wants emotional closeness, but fears getting too close). 
  
• Difficulty trusting the intentions of partners, or depending on them. 
  
• Feels unworthy of response from partner.  
  

Have the participants discuss the style of attachment that they grew up with, and how they see their style of attachment now.

Download the PDF file: Presentation: Attachment styles [ 182 Kb]