The Therapeutic Relationship as an Attachment Relationship: The Role of Epistemic Trust

This chapter explores how the therapeutic relationship can function as an attachment relationship to enhance patients’ ability to trust. It delves into the traditional protective function of attachment and the modern understanding of attachment relationships fostering information transmission through epistemic trust. This chapter discusses Bowlby’s view on the therapist’s tasks and emphasizes the importance of mutual trust and understanding in therapy. It also examines how therapists can adapt to patients’ attachment patterns to foster a secure therapeutic alliance.