Embodied Trauma Therapy

Can You Hear It? - The Sound of Avoidant Attachment

One colleague described sitting with a client with an avoidant attachment strategy this way:

"I could be a blowup doll. They could leave a life-sized doll in my chair and I'm not sure the client would notice."

In Issue 9 of The 51st Minute, I share three signals to listen for — including what Fosha calls "deal and not feel," the mechanism Bowlby named decades ago, and what small doses of connection look like in a session.

Link in comments.

An early therapy case was a client discharged 24 hours after a su***de attempt — after losing a child.

I was a grad school intern. I'd just learned CBT case conceptualization. I sat there thinking: how is this supposed to help?

I never forgot how stuck I felt and it's motivated exploring new frameworks — and why a recent book on attachment patterns caught my attention.

If a client is stalling and you can't figure out why, this might help.
Issue 8 of The 51st Minute is live: https://tinyurl.com/51stissue8

When you grow your confidence using the eight phases … you're on your way to mastering the EMDR model.

You've graduated from EMDR Basic Training
You're working toward certification,

But do hours alone build the thing certification is really asking for?

Mastering the Model is a small EMDR certification consultation group. With just four therapists, one EMDRIA Approved Consultant, and five months, you're supported in layering skills and organizing cases so clients progress.

Demonstrate fidelity to the standard protocol and earn up to 10 consultation hours.
Through developmental feedback — build clinical 'muscle.'
It's led by Donna Hunter, M.A., CMHC — an EMDR Approved Consultant and Facilitator who thrives in the deep end of complex trauma and dissociation, and who can document your certification hours.

Fall 2026 · Saturdays 10–12 MT on Zoom · Aug–Dec · intentionally small, just 4 seats.

See full details by clicking the link in the comments.

Not sure whether you need certification consultation or general case consultation? Start here: embodiedtraumatherapy.com/clinician-services