Key Interventions

Attachment compensations are fundamental to our being. There is a natural yearning for love, intimacy, safety, and affection, which individuals strive to fulfill through various strategies to foster and safeguard meaningful connections. This exploration centers on attachment compensations, which emerge as poignant attempts to bridge the gaps within one’s internal working models. By doing so, they aim to fill the voids that early life experiences may have left.

In Attachment Repair and Processing Therapy (ARPT), compensation is a coping mechanism based on hope. People use this strategy to meet the needs of others while expecting to receive emotional support in return. This dynamic can create complex relationships where individuals prioritize the needs of others over their own. If left unaddressed, this can lead to imbalances in the relationship, resulting in resentment, frustration, and disappointment. Therefore, it is essential to be aware of these behaviours and make adjustments to prevent negative consequences.