Emotionally focused couples therapy is a relationship intervention that has its roots in attachment theory. According to attachment theory, our interactions with caregivers (and, most notably, our primary caregiver) shape the way that we interact with others throughout our lives. Children are born with needs for objects necessary for survival, such as milk and water, as well as less tangible needs for emotional closeness, support, and protection. These needs must be met to ensure the survival of the infant, as we are born dependent on others for survival.

The infant expresses these attachment needs through behaviors such as crying or smiling. Caregivers can be responsive, inconsistent, or unresponsive to the needs of a child. A caregiver’s degree of responsiveness has implications for the development of the infant’s attachment style (Bretherton, 1992), which may remain relatively stable throughout the course of an individual’s life. The main types of attachment styles are secure attachment, anxious-ambivalent attachment, and anxious-avoidant attachment (Bretherton, 1992).

Responsive caregivers nurture children to develop a secure attachment style. Those with a secure attachment style are able to form stable and satisfying bonds with others. In contrast, caregivers who........

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