As a couples therapist, I often end up helping clients become aware of their attachment styles and the impact attachment styles have on relationships. Attachment styles are how you ‘attach’ to people in intimate relationships, and John Bowlby’s work on attachment theory identified 4 adult styles which are: anxious (preoccupied), avoidant (dismissive), disorganized (fearful-avoidant), and secure. Attachment styles develop early in life and often remain stable over time, but with the help of secure attachments to romantic partner(s), and/or therapy, attachment styles can change for the better. In this series of posts, we’ll briefly explore each attachment style and then explore ways to foster a secure attachment style.