Transform Your Relationships and Insight with Expert Care
At Tides Mental Health in Chicago, IL, our licensed clinical social workers and clinical professional counselors utilize attachment theory and parts work to help you build stronger relationships and develop a more compassionate relationship with yourself. If you find yourself repeating the same relationship patterns or feeling like different parts of yourself are in conflict, our trauma-informed approach can help you create lasting change.
We integrate attachment-based therapy with Internal Family Systems (IFS) to address both your relational patterns with others and your own “internal family dynamics”. This powerful combination supports individuals, couples, and families in developing greater self-awareness, emotional regulation, and the capacity for secure, meaningful relationships.
Ready to start your journey? Contact us today for a free 15-minute consultation.
Our Attachment Theory and Parts Work Services
Individual Therapy for Attachment and Parts Work
Our individual therapy sessions provide a supportive environment where you can explore your attachment patterns and develop a healthier relationship with all parts of yourself. Our licensed clinical professional counselors use evidence-based approaches to help you: Understand how early emotional bonds impact your current relationships Develop greater self-compassion and emotional regulation Process and Integrate childhood trauma and complex trauma experiences Navigate life transitions with increased resilience Build secure relationships and overcome challenges in interpersonal relationships
Couples Therapy Using Attachment-Based Approach
The interactions of differing attachment styles can often result in relationship challenges. Couples therapy helps partners understand their unconscious dynamics and develop more effective coping strategies for connection and conflict resolution. We support clients in: Recognizing how attachment patterns show up in your relationship Developing effective communication and emotional coping skills Creating transparent relationships based on understanding rather than reactivity Addressing attachment wounds that impact intimacy and trust Building a deeper emotional connections with each other.
Family Therapy and Attachment Work
Our family therapists understand that family dynamics are shaped by intergenerational patterns and the way different family members interact in their perceived roles.. We help families create new ways of connecting while honoring everyone's needs and experiences through: Understanding family systems and attachment patterns across generations Supporting parents in creating secure relationships with their children Navigating identity development challenges for teens and young adults Addressing harmful narratives that impact family relationships Creating a collaborative space for meaningful change
Who Can Benefit from Our Services
Ideal Clients for Attachment Theory and Parts Work
Our therapeutic approach is particularly effective for individuals, couples, and families who are:
- Motivated for Growth: You’re open to exploring your patterns and committed to personal growth and meaningful change
- Seeking Authentic Connection: You want relationships where you don’t have to minimize your story or translate your identity
- Ready for Deep Work: You’re prepared to explore both surface-level symptoms and underlying attachment patterns
- Open to Holistic Approaches: You’re interested in therapy techniques that address both mind and body
Specific Issues We Address
Our trauma-informed care approach effectively supports clients dealing with:
Attachment and Relationship Issues:
- Difficulty trusting others or feeling safe in close relationships
- Repeating unhealthy relationship patterns
- Fear of abandonment or intimacy challenges
Communication breakdowns in couples and families
Emotional Health Concerns:
- Anxiety, depression, and emotional regulation difficulties
- Complex trauma and childhood trauma responses
- Life transitions and identity development challenges
- Self-esteem and self-worth struggles
Internal Conflicts:
- Feeling like different parts of yourself are in conflict
- Harsh self-criticism and lack of self-compassion
- Difficulty making decisions or knowing what you want
- Feeling disconnected from your authentic self
Our Therapeutic Approach: How We Work
Evidence-Based Modalities We Use
Our clinical social workers and licensed clinical professional counselors are trained in multiple therapeutic approaches, allowing us to create a personalized treatment plan that meets your unique needs:
Core Approaches:
- Internal Family Systems (IFS): Helping you develop a compassionate relationship with all parts of yourself
- Attachment-Based Therapy: Understanding how early bonds shape your current relationships
- Narrative Therapy: Re-authoring your life story and moving away from harmful narratives
- Trauma-Informed Care: Creating safety and stability as the foundation for treatment.
Complementary Techniques:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Identifying and shifting unhelpful thought patterns
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy: Developing emotional regulation and coping skills
- Mindfulness-Based Therapy: Cultivating present-moment awareness through mindfulness practices
- Somatic & Polyvagal Informed Therapy: Including the body in healing and nervous system regulation
Our Process: What to Expect
Free 15-Minute Consultation We begin with a no-pressure conversation to ensure we’re the right fit for your needs. This allows you to share what’s bringing you to therapy and ask questions about our approach.
Initial Session and Assessment Your first session focuses on building rapport, exploring what brought you in, and identifying initial goals. We create a supportive space where you can begin to feel seen and understood without judgment.
Collaborative Treatment Planning Together, we develop a personalized approach that honors your pace, preferences, and goals. Whether you need weekly sessions or bi-weekly meetings, we adapt to what works best for you.
Ongoing Support and Growth We regularly check in about your progress and adjust our therapeutic approach as needed. Our goal is meaningful change that supports your long-term well-being and personal growth.
Why Choose Tides Mental Health for Attachment and Parts Work
Specialized Expertise in Chicago, IL
Our team of therapists in Chicago brings extensive clinical experience in attachment theory and Internal Family Systems work. We understand the complex interplay between early relationships and current patterns, and we’re skilled at helping clients navigate this terrain with compassion and expertise.
Trauma-Informed, Justice-Oriented Care
We recognize that attachment patterns are influenced by cultural, social, and systemic factors. Our justice-oriented therapists provide culturally responsive care for clients from marginalized communities, including BIPOC, LGBTQ+, neurodivergent, and multilingual individuals. We create a nonjudgmental space where you don’t have to translate your identity.
Flexible Service Options
We offer both online therapy and in-person sessions to accommodate your preferences and schedule. Our therapeutic space is designed to feel safe and welcoming, whether you’re meeting with us virtually or in our Chicago office.
Comprehensive, Client-Centered Approach
Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, we tailor our services to your unique needs and goals. Our holistic approach addresses not just symptoms but the underlying patterns that keep you stuck, supporting lasting change and emotional wholeness.
Understanding Attachment Theory and Parts Work
How Attachment Patterns Shape Your Life
Attachment theory reveals how our earliest emotional bonds create lasting patterns in how we approach relationships. The four attachment styles—secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized—influence everything from how we interpret our partner’s behavior to our comfort with vulnerability and our beliefs about our own worthiness.
These unconscious dynamics don’t just affect romantic relationships; they impact friendships, family relationships, and even your relationship with yourself. Understanding your attachment style helps you recognize why certain situations trigger intense reactions and provides a roadmap for creating more secure relationships.
The Power of Internal Family Systems
Internal Family Systems recognizes that we all have different parts that carry various emotions, memories, and protective strategies. Rather than seeing internal conflict as a problem, “parts work” helps you develop curiosity and compassion for all aspects of yourself.
When you understand that the anxious part trying to avoid rejection or the withdrawn part protecting you from disappointment developed for good reasons, you can begin to work with these parts rather than against them. This creates space for your True Self—the part that is naturally curious, compassionate, and connected—to lead.
Integration for Lasting Change
By combining attachment theory with parts work, we address both your relational patterns and your internal landscape. This integration allows for deeper growth because we’re working with both the ways you connect with others and the ways different parts of you show up in relationships.
This approach is particularly effective for individuals who have tried traditional talk therapy but still find themselves stuck in familiar patterns. By addressing both attachment wounds and internal parts, we create multiple pathways for growth and self understanding.
Real Results: What Our Clients Experience
Individual Transformation
Clients working with attachment theory and parts work often report:
- Increased self-compassion and reduced self-criticism
- Better emotional regulation during stressful situations
- Greater clarity about their needs and boundaries
- Improved ability to stay present during conflict
- More authentic connections with others
Relationship Improvements
Couples and families engaging in this work frequently experience:
- Enhanced communication and understanding
- Reduced reactivity during disagreements
- Increased empathy for each other’s triggers and patterns
- Stronger emotional bonds and intimacy
- More effective problem-solving as a team
Long-Term Growth
The skills and insights gained through attachment and parts work continue to benefit clients long after therapy ends. Many report feeling more equipped to handle future challenges and life transitions with resilience and self-awareness.
Specialized Support for Diverse Communities
Culturally Responsive Care
We understand that attachment patterns and parts are deeply influenced by cultural background, family traditions, and social experiences. Our approach honors your full identity while addressing how systemic factors may have impacted your attachment development and sense of self.
Addressing Identity and Belonging
For clients from marginalized communities, we recognize how harmful narratives imparted by society can create additional layers of internal conflict. We work to help you separate authentic parts of yourself from internalized oppression, supporting both healing and identity development.
Creating Safety for Vulnerability
We prioritize creating a therapeutic space where you can explore vulnerable parts and attachment wounds without fear of judgment or misunderstanding. Our team’s clinical experience includes working with diverse populations and understanding how different identities intersect with mental health and well-being.
Getting Started with Attachment and Parts Work Therapy
Is This Approach Right for You?
Consider attachment theory and parts work if you:
- Feel stuck in repeating relationship patterns
- Experience internal conflict or competing emotions
- Want to understand why you react strongly to certain situations
- Seek deeper self work beyond symptom management
- Are ready to explore both current challenges and underlying patterns
Taking the First Step
Starting therapy can feel vulnerable, which is why we begin with a free consultation. This allows you to get a sense of our approach to determine if we feel like the right fit for your journey.
During this conversation, you can share what’s bringing you to therapy, ask questions about our methods, and discuss practical details like scheduling and session format preferences.
Investment in Your Growth
We believe that quality mental health care should be accessible. We work with major insurance plans and can discuss options during your consultation to help you understand your benefits and any out-of-pocket costs.
Begin Your Journey Today
Attachment theory and parts work offer a unique pathway to understanding yourself and your relationships more deeply. Whether you’re dealing with specific relationship challenges, navigating life transitions, or simply wanting to develop a more compassionate relationship with yourself, our team at Tides Mental Health is here to support you.
Our licensed clinical social workers and clinical professional counselors in Chicago, IL are ready to help you create the changes you’re seeking. Through our trauma-informed, culturally responsive approach, we’ll work together to heal old wounds, develop new patterns, and build the secure, authentic relationships you deserve.
Ready to start? Contact Tides Mental Health today to schedule your free 15-minute consultation. Let’s explore how attachment theory and parts work can transform your relationships and support your journey toward emotional wholeness.
Don’t wait to begin living the life you deserve. Your future self—and your relationships—will thank you for taking this brave step toward growth and change.