Attachment wounds are emotional injuries that develop based on painful experiences with those we care about. These experiences create a kind of blueprint we carry around for how relationships work, and when that internal model is based on fear and pain, it’s hard for our relationships to thrive. In this episode of the Being Well Podcast, somatic therapist Elizabeth Ferreira joins the show to help us understand ways of healing attachment wounds and developing more secure forms of relating.
Elizabeth and Forrest explore how early experiences shape our relationships, with a particular focus on a common paradox: deeply wanting connection while simultaneously fearing intimacy. They discuss fearful attachment, how Elizabeth approaches working with attachment wounds in clinical practice, complex PTSD, self-abandonment, facing our dreaded experience, setting healthy boundaries, and navigating relationships where fearful attachment patterns are present.
About our Guest: Elizabeth Ferreira is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist working in California. She specializes in somatic approaches to trauma work.
Key Topics:
- 0:00: Introduction
- 1:05: Elizabeth’s personal experience of fearful attachment
- 7:40: Therapy and healing attachment wounds
- 11:55: Elizabeth’s experience learning to create boundaries
- 21:35: Internal Family Systems, and how to dialog with our parts
- 27:15: Working with our protective part, and self-criticism
- 31:00: Dialoguing with our inner child without a therapist
- 38:15: Healthy anger, grief, and patience
- 42:25: What helped Elizabeth be vulnerable in relating to Forrest
- 53:10: Disorganized moments, identifying needs, and taking in the good
- 1:00:20: Intent, impact, and reasonable limits
- 1:05:20: Becoming your own secure attachment figure, and healing in community
- 1:09:10: Recap
Forrest is now writing on Substack, check out his work there.
