An attachment perspective on psychological (clinical) counseling
Karola Sorgi, Cristina Ciuluvica (Neagu), Daniela Marchetti, Maria Di Nardo, Mario Fulcheri
This paper aims to propose an applicative declination of the attachment model as a part of psychological (clinical) counseling. Starting with a reflection on how attachment theory can be used as a common basis for clinical psychological strategies and actions, it is deemed that such processing could be a reference model allowing both clinical and research demands to be met. The possibility of adapting key elements from the model of the five therapeutic tasks proposed by Bowlby to the specific peculiarities of the counseling process is analysed. Assuming such a theoretical framework, the goals of the counseling process can be identified as the exploration and acquisition of awareness regarding adaptive/maladaptive patterns and their origin, helping the client to take their first steps toward change.
Keywords
psychodynamic counseling; adult attachment; alliance; self-awareness; adaptive/maladaptive patterns.
