ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the model of attachment theory which places a strong emphasis on the person's life and the quality of the relationships which were experienced at that time. Attachment theory has grown from the psychodynamic tradition. However, in its formulation, it has also incorporated a cognitive dimension which has important implications for effecting change in the individual's working model of attachment relationships in the present. The child is beginning to develop an internal working model which reflects his or her experiences in relationships. The concept of attachment originated in the work of J. Bowlby to explain the bonding relationship that develops between parents and their infant. In Bowlby's view, separation from the caregiver 'activated' the attachment system in order to restore proximity. Attachment theory hypothesises that there are continuities between early experience and later relationships. Counsellors working within an attachment theory framework will create opportunities for the client to explore the inner world of feelings and memories.
