The Use of Emotional Focused Therapy Research Paper

The Use of Emotional Focused Therapy - Research Paper Example Attachment theory is the basis of information for attachment injury work. John Bowlby considered the "father" of attachment theory found that the way that children form attachments based on their early attachments to their primary caregiver. If they are able to bond strongly with this individual, they have a strong foundation for love, respect, self-esteem, and self-confidence. Farley (2004) studied Bowlby's work and suggests that children are always looking for the presence of their caregiver and asking the question,   Ã‚  "Is the attachment figure nearby, accessible, and attentive?" If the answer to this question is "yes", the child will grow up feeling confident and secure and may be able to explore their environment easier; they will be more prone to have close friends and to be very social. If the child perceives that the answer to this question is "no," they will more likely feel anxious and afraid, and will constantly seek out attention because they are looking for the careg iver. These children develop a lack of trust because they feel that the attachment figure will not be available to them, and it also means that they may not be able to reestablish a connection with the attachment figure (Farley, p. 1). Translating this information to adult attachment therapy, Farley states that "the same motivational system that gives rise to the close emotional bond between parents and their children is responsible for the bond that develops between adults in emotionally intimate relationships" (p. 1). The challenge is that when an attachment is not clear or has not developed in childhood, as children grow into adults, they may experience attachment injuries.