Attachment Therapy for Adults in California: Healing Adult Attachment Wounds with Trauma-Informed Therapy

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Anxious or Avoidant Attachment?

You crave intimacy and closeness—but something keeps getting in the way. You might:

  • Attract emotionally unavailable partners or fear being “too much.”

  • Feel anxious when someone pulls away—or shut down when things get too close or serious.

  • Struggle to trust, open up, or feel safe depending on others.

  • Carry a quiet sense of loneliness, even in relationships.

You’ve tried to “just move on” or “be more confident,” but the same patterns keep showing up.

This isn’t because something is wrong with you—it’s attachment trauma and deep-rooted patterns formed long ago, shaping how you connect and protect yourself today.

At Cove Counseling Group in San Diego, we help you heal the roots of these struggles so you can experience the kind of connection that finally feels safe—and lasting.

Schedule a free 15 min consultation today!

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.

Woman with long black hair wearing a white embroidered top, standing at the edge of the ocean with her back to the camera—symbolizing reflection, healing, and the emotional journey supported by trauma-informed therapy at Cove Counseling Group

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.

Close-up of a child’s feet in the sand, symbolizing grounding, childhood experiences, and the early attachment wounds addressed through trauma-informed therapy at Cove Counseling Group

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.

Estranged couple standing apart on the beach, silently facing the ocean, symbolizing emotional distance and attachment wounds.
Female young-adult client sitting on a couch, smiling during a telehealth therapy session focused on attachment healing—representing the comfort, connection, and accessibility of trauma-informed online therapy at Cove Counseling Group

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

Book a free consultation call with us today!

How Attachment Therapy Helps You 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.

Learn more about how we can support you!

A woman with dark hair and earrings stands outdoors with eyes closed, appearing to enjoy the moment near the beach.
A woman smiling while attending an online therapy session from home, representing the accessibility and warmth of virtual trauma therapy and EMDR services offered by Cove Counseling Group across California.

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.

Schedule a 15 min consultation with a therapist 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

Bright, warm reception area at Cove Counseling Group with natural light, welcoming plants, and calming decor—creating a safe and inviting space for trauma-informed therapy clients

Attachment-Focused Therapy

Attachment-focused therapy to rebuild a sense of trust, safety, and connection in real-time with your therapist

Therapist’s chair with an EMDR lightbar in a calm, welcoming therapy office—designed for trauma-informed care and attachment-focused healing sessions at Cove Counseling Group
Book a consultation today!
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Locations We Serve

We offer in-person trauma therapy in San Diego for individuals who value face-to-face connection and support in a calming, welcoming space.

Our office is centrally located in Mission Valley, with easy access to major freeways and just minutes from neighborhoods like Hillcrest, North Park, University Heights, and other nearby communities.

Whether you're looking for trauma therapy close to home or during your workday, our convenient location makes it easier to prioritize your healing.

Schedule your free 15 min consultation today!

Meet Our California Based Trauma-Informed Therapists

At Cove Counseling Group, all of our therapists are trauma-informed—and several specialize in trauma recovery, including complex PTSD and attachment wounds. Each brings a unique approach, but all share a commitment to helping you feel safe, seen, and supported.

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Leah Aguirre, LCSW

Diana Rabban, LCSW

Learn more about our team!

Laura McLean, LMFT