Early Attachment and Emotion Regulation
EMDR for Attachment InjuriesWe develop the capacity to recognize our internal state through early secure attachment relationships. When that attachment figure is attuned to our emotions and responding with sensitivity, We're learning about our internal state, and we're learning as we're co regulated how to self regulate. And so we can assume clients that have these adverse childhood experiences within their attachment relationships do not have that capacity. They are shifting internal state all time without awareness and with no intentionality.
And so why is this? Well, think about the adaptive information processing model. So people who have had chronic adverse childhood experiences. Growing up, have a large store of unprocessed memories. And we know those memories within those neural networks are easily triggered then and light up on a daily basis. And so clients who have this large store of unprocessed childhood disturbing experiences are constantly feeling the childhood feelings, thinking through the child perspective.
So they're unable to link up to the adaptive information that's stored in that front brain and the adult brain. So it's our job to give them that capacity and to help them learn to be intentional about shifting their internal state.