Working with avoidant clients
Avoidant clients – How they developed this pattern, how it has shaped them, how we can work with them
Being avoidant is sometimes seen as a ‘bad’ thing and the term is used in a blaming way. We might hear “My ex was so avoidant they wouldn’t ever talk to me at all”. We will seek to understand why people would develop this form of self-protection – what is the environment in which avoidance would seem like the best solution? We will aim to recognise the vulnerability which can be so masked in people with this pattern.
We will explore:
- How they developed this pattern
- How it may have shaped clients’ development and adult life
- How practitioners can work most effectively with this group
In addition, we will consider:
- How some people with narcissistic traits might have an avoidant attachment style
- How some neuro-diverse people may be seen as ‘very avoidant’ – what is the crossover here?
I will use a PowerPoint presentation to share my understanding of avoidant attachments. We’ll work on specific focused small group exercises and hopefully have lots of lively discussions.
The workshop would be useful for practitioners who are interested in attachment theory and want to take a more focused look at the avoidant experience. The day aims to equip us with skills for attuning to these clients, bearing in mind that our own attachment strategies will come into play in the therapy relationship. We may find these clients more or less triggering depending on our own early attachment experience.
More information at https://www.greenwoodevents.co.uk/events/