Insecurity, Control, and Abuse: What Attachment Theory Can Teach Us About Treating Intimate Partner Violence

Working with intimate partner violence (IPV) can be a daunting task for systemic therapists. Nevertheless, research establishing a connection between attachment and IPV suggests that systemic therapists may be particularly well-suited to the task. Due to the high clinical prevalence of IPV, therapists should understand how it presents in session and how it can be addressed, and attachment theory can be helpful in such conceptualization and treatment pursuits. Although some therapy models draw upon attachment theory when working with couples, concerns about safety have been raised when using attachment-based models with IPV. In this article, a review of the research linking attachment and IPV is presented, along with limitations of attachment conceptualizations of IPV. The case is made for safe use of attachment-based treatments of IPV through previously developed best safety practices as well as the integration of contextual factors, such as gender and power, that help create a more comprehensive, ecological view of violence. Specific ideas are presented to help therapists conceptualize and intervene with IPV using an attachment-based lens.