Why "Attuned Attention Psychotherapy"?
Attunement is a central concept in attachment theory. When two people are attuned to one another, they "get each other" on a fundamental level. They feel seen and heard. "Emotional attunement" is the unspoken understanding, safety, and acceptance a mother shows her infant. It goes beyond empathy and validation to meet one's core relational needs. It is the process of truly seeing another person, understanding and responding to their needs, and staying present with them, especially in moments of discomfort. It is essential for a strong therapeutic relationship, and is the primary determinant of a "successful marriage," according to John Gottman, PhD.
When you feel like you are being attuned to, you feel safe. What prevents attunement? Distraction! When you can be fully present, and understand your own life narrative - the good, the bad, the moments of joy and moments of pain - you can live your life more fully, deeply and authentically. I will help you get there.
Therapy is the safest space to practice new modes of communication - both with others and with yourself. I specialize in ADHD (childhood through adulthood), anxiety, co-occurring disorders and couples & family therapy. At the core of our work together we will be addressing how you harness your attention, how this impacts your functioning, and how it plays out in your communication with others and yourself. This is why I call my practice Attuned Attention Psychotherapy.
In this therapeutic space you will see me demonstrate, and you will develop the skill of attunement. You will learn to focus your attention on that attunement, and become aware of where your attention goes, and how to play a more active role in deciding to what/whom/where you attend. In turn, you will gain a fuller understanding of your patterns of relating, thinking, behaving, feeling -- and of those around you.
"Self-attunement is just as important as attuning to others. After all, if we're out of touch with our own emotions, how can we possibly connect to someone else's? "
- Sarah Regan, MindBodyGreen
A few articles on Attunement
The Power of Attunement from Parenting Success Network (Jan. 22, 2019) - Link
Finding Emotional Connection/Attunement from All Emotional Matters - Link
10 things that mentally strong parents do with their children to build their maturity and emotional intelligence from Business Insider (Updatd July 20, 2020). Access March 1, 2023 at Link.
Attunement in couples: a mutual understanding of each other on a core emotional level.
"The more highly skilled at achieving it that partners become, the more resilient their friendship and the more solid and promising their future. Some couples are naturals at attunement. But others (most of us!) need to work at it.”
― John M. Gottman, Ph.D.
