ABSTRACT
Attachment state of mind refers to the way adults process attachment-related thoughts, memories, and feelings (Main & Goldwyn, in press). We argue in this chapter that the states of mind of clients as well as clinicians are central to the work of psychotherapy and other forms of mental health services for several reasons. First, the treatment relationship is often an attachment relationship: The client finds in the therapist someone who seems stronger and wiser than him-or herself. Thus, the client may interact with the clinician in ways that reflect expectations from other relationships. In clinical parlance, this is referred to as “transference.” Second, although therapy does not ordinarily represent an attachment relationship for the clinician, the relationship is inherently interpersonal and involves caregiving. Therefore, the clinician’s own state of mind affects his or her interactions with the client. Third, treatment is often directed at modifying the client’s processing of attachment-related information as well as the client’s expectations of, and interactions with, others. Thus, an objective of treatment is often modifying the client’s state of mind, either directly or indirectly.
