Attachment Therapy for Adults in California: Healing Adult Attachment Wounds with Trauma-Informed Therapy
What Is Attachment Trauma?
Attachment trauma develops when early relationships—typically with a parent or caregiver—lack the safety, consistency, or emotional connection needed to form a secure bond. These early disruptions in connection can result in attachment wounds and shape how we experience intimacy, trust, and self-worth well into adulthood. As an adult, attachment trauma may show up as:
Repeating painful relationship patterns
Fear of abandonment or being “too much”
Emotional withdrawal or avoidance
Difficulty trusting or opening up
A persistent sense of loneliness or disconnection
Many people don’t recognize these struggles as signs of unresolved attachment wounds. They just know something isn’t working—and they feel stuck.
At Cove Counseling Group in San Diego, we help you identify and heal these patterns. Through trauma-informed attachment therapy, we create space to explore what shaped your relational experiences and guide you toward deeper, healthier connections—with others and with yourself. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to learn more!
What are attachment wounds?
Attachment wounds are emotional injuries that occur when early relationships—especially with caregivers—fail to provide the safety, consistency, or attunement a child needs to feel secure. These wounds aren’t always obvious or dramatic, but they can have a deep and lasting impact.
Common sources of attachment wounds include:
Emotional neglect: Caregivers were present but emotionally distant, leaving you feeling unseen or invalidated.
Inconsistent care: Love, attention, or safety came and went unpredictably—making it hard to trust or relax in relationships.
Abandonment or loss: A parent or caregiver left, passed away, or was emotionally unavailable due to their own struggles.
Conditional love or criticism: Affection was based on performance or behavior, creating a belief that love had to be earned.
Parentification: You were expected to meet others' emotional or physical needs, often becoming “the responsible one” too early.
How Attachment Wounds Show Up Later in Life
These early experiences shape how we move through the world—often in ways we don’t even realize. Attachment wounds can impact:
How we relate to others (friends, partners, peers)
How safe we feel in relationships
How we view ourselves and our sense of worthiness
If you find yourself struggling with boundaries, self-doubt, fear of abandonment, or emotional closeness, attachment work can be a powerful part of healing. You're not "too much" or "too sensitive"—you’re carrying the imprint of relationships that didn’t give you what you needed, and it’s never too late to repair.
What is attachment therapy?
Attachment therapy (aka “attachment-focused therapy”) is a specialized form of psychotherapy that helps adults heal the emotional and relational pain caused by early disruptions in connection.
At Cove Counseling Group, we use trauma-informed modalities such as EMDR, parts work therapy, and self-compassion to help clients gently explore and heal these attachment wounds.
Our goal is to do more than understand the past—we support you in creating real, lasting change:
Building a felt sense of internal safety
Shifting patterns of disconnection or anxiety
Developing secure, fulfilling relationships
Reconnecting with your core self—with compassion
How Attachment Therapy Helps Adults Heal
Attachment therapy for adults goes beyond surface-level insight—it addresses the deep-rooted emotional patterns shaped by early relational experiences.
Based in California, at Cove Counseling Group we use attachment-focused therapy to help you:
Understand how early attachment wounds shaped your beliefs and behaviors
Reprocess painful memories stored in the nervous system
Develop new patterns of emotional regulation and secure connection
Strengthen your sense of self, boundaries, and inner safety
These approaches aren’t about fixing what’s “wrong”—they’re about understanding and having compassion for the parts of you that adapted to survive, and helping them feel safe enough to let go.
Why Trauma- Informed Care Matters
Healing from attachment trauma requires more than talking about your past—it requires a space where you feel deeply safe, seen, and supported.
At Cove Counseling Group, trauma-informed care isn’t just a framework—it’s the foundation of everything we do.
We understand that trust is built slowly, especially when early relationships taught you that connection isn’t safe or reliable. This means:
We move at your pace—there’s no pressure to go “deep” before you're ready
Your boundaries and choices are always respected
We’re trained to recognize and respond to nervous system cues, not just words
Every part of you—especially the ones that feel ashamed or guarded—is welcomed without judgment
This kind of care helps create the safety needed to explore attachment wounds without retraumatization. Over time, this safety becomes internalized—helping you build secure, resilient relationships with others and with yourself. Connect with us by scheduling a free 15-min consultation today!
Our Unique Approach at Cove Counseling Group
Every story is different—which is why our approach to attachment-focused therapy is personalized and grounded in relational safety.
At Cove Counseling Group, our therapists are trained in trauma-focused methods that support deep, lasting healing.
We specialize in:
EMDR Therapy
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to help process and release painful relational memories
Parts-Work Therapy
Parts-work therapy to connect with and care for younger, protective, or wounded parts of you
Attachment-Focused Therapy
Attachment-focused therapy to rebuild a sense of trust, safety, and connection in real-time with your therapist
Leah Aguirre Barnes, LCSW
Specialties: Trauma, EMDR, Attachment Wounds, Emotionally Abusive Relationships, Dating & Self-Esteem
Leah is a licensed clinical social worker who supports adults healing from attachment wounds, emotionally abusive relationships, and the pain of feeling "not enough." She integrates EMDR therapy and attachment based therapy to help clients break unhelpful patterns, build self-trust, and cultivate more fulfilling relationships—with others and with themselves.
Available: In-person (San Diego) & Virtual sessions across California
Meet the Cove Attachment Focused Therapists
Diana Rabban, LCSW
Specialties: Trauma, EMDR Therapy, Parts-Work Therapy
Diana is a licensed psychotherapist who works with adults navigating the effects of early childhood trauma, relationship wounds, and the complexities of immigrant identity and living between cultures. She integrates EMDR, parts work, and mindfulness-based approaches to help clients reconnect with themselves and feel more grounded in daily life.
Available: In-person (San Diego) & Virtual sessions across California