One of the central themes of attachment theory is that primary caregivers who are available and responsive to an infant's needs allow the child to develop a sense of security, confidence and emotional stability. The infant knows that the caregiver is dependable, which creates a secure base for the child to then explore the world. A child with secure attachment grows into adulthood with resilience, healthy self-esteem, and adaptive relationships with others.

As adults, attachment theory would suggest that the majority of us did not have all of our needs met as infants or children, and that the effects of this insecure attachment influence our decisions, behaviors, and overall worldview. Psychotherapy with a supportive, empathetic therapist has the potential to alter and repair these interpersonal attachment injuries.  Additional Reading on Attachment

This method explores the effect that therapy has on the brain and how the brain mechanism is directly impacted by life experiences. In the past, experts believed that neurological growth stopped as late as early adulthood. Neuroplasticity demonstrates that the formation of new neurons and neurological links continue throughout people's entire lives. This relatively new information supports the theory of interpersonal neurobiology and offers evidence of its validity and efficacy. By understanding how these neurological links are affected, and similarly, how they affect the body, mind, and spirit as a whole, clinicians can better assist clients to rebuild and reconnect these links to achieve a healthier internal balance.  Additional Reading on Interpersonal Neurobiology

Rather than viewing people as inherently flawed, with problematic behaviors and thoughts that require treatment, person-centered therapy identifies that each person has the capacity and desire for personal growth and change. Rogers termed this natural human inclination “actualizing tendency,” or self-actualization. He likened it to the way that other living organisms strive toward balance, order, and greater complexity. According to Rogers, "Individuals have within themselves vast resources for self-understanding and for altering their self-concepts, basic attitudes, and self-directed behavior; these resources can be tapped if a definable climate of facilitative psychological attitudes can be provided."

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a short-term, problem-focused form of behavioral treatment that helps people see the relationship between beliefs, thoughts, and feelings, and subsequent behavior patterns and actions. Through CBT, people learn that their perceptions directly influence their responses to specific situations. In other words, a person’s thought process informs his or her behaviors and actions. Cognitive behavioral therapy is not a distinct treatment technique; rather, it is a general term which refers to a group of therapies that have certain similarities in therapeutic methodology.