Although empathy is an important factor for psychotherapy to be effective, not all clients
react equally positive to an empathic, validating relationship. Attachment theory explains
how insecure attachment can result in a fragile style of processing; emotional events are
experienced very intensely, or can only be held for a brief moment. This suggests that
empathy should be expressed with care, depending on what the client can handle. In this
article, we describe markers of three types of insecure attachment, inspired by a narrativeinformed
approach to emotion-focused therapy (EFT). For each type, we formulate a specific
kind of psychotherapeutic intervention. By approaching the client in a careful and sometimes
rather rational manner, the client can gradually discover that it is safe to experience
and share vulnerability. This approach is illustrated with clinical vignettes.
Empathy, insecure attachment, emotion-focused, narrative approach, affect regulation
The tPeP (Journal Person-centered experiential Psychotherapy) is the scientific journal for Dutch and Flemish psychotherapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists, that work from, or are interested in a client-centered perspective.
