At Innate Therapies, we work with children and adults in attachment and trauma repair which is done through creating a space that is safe and secure to allow the therapeutic work to be done.
We help those who have suffered trauma in their early years, heal.
A positive caregiver-child bond helps to establish healthy development, self-confidence, self-regulation, and a pattern for developing other relationships.
How Attachment Trauma Lingers Later in Life
The process of early attachment with our primary caregivers begins before we are born, and has a significant impact on how we view the world and the relationships we have. How this process goes, and whether it is healthy, inconsistent, or involves trauma, can significantly impact how a person relates to others throughout his or her life taking it into their relationships as an adult.
Signs and Symptoms of Attachment Trauma
At Innate Therapies in Cairns, we work with children, teens, and families who are experiencing emotional and behavioural challenges. One of the most profound and often overlooked causes of these struggles is attachment trauma — a disruption or difficulty in the formation of secure early relationships, often with a caregiver.
What is Attachment Trauma?
If a baby/child experiences the absence of the primary caregiver which may include mental illness, divorce, illness, death or inability to parent through their own attachment story can result in trauma therefore creating an unhealthy attachment pattern to form for the child. It may also include a parent who is unpredictable therefore creating a relationship that is not consistent around nurture.
Whatever the attachment style that plays out within the child’s life as it seeks comfort and attachment repair from others.
Children and young people who have experienced attachment trauma may display a range of emotional, behavioural, and social symptoms. These can vary in intensity depending on the individual and their life experiences. Common signs include:
Emotional Symptoms:
Persistent anxiety or fearfulness
Low self-esteem or a sense of worthlessness
Difficulty regulating emotions (e.g., frequent outbursts, withdrawal)
Overly clingy or unusually distant behaviour
Behavioural Signs:
Aggressive or oppositional behaviour
Defiance or resistance to authority
Risk-taking or self-harming behaviours
Difficulties with sleep, eating, or toileting (especially in younger children)
Social Difficulties:
Trouble forming or maintaining friendships
Distrust of adults or caregivers
Difficulty with empathy or understanding others’ feelings
Excessive need for control or independence
Physical or Developmental Concerns:
Delays in speech, learning, or motor development
Somatic complaints such as headaches or stomach aches with no clear cause
Let us help you create a safe space.
For children who grow up with parents who can support their immediate needs will form a stable attachment, and therefore the child learns that the world around them is safe and predictable.
A positive caregiver-child bond helps to establish healthy development, self-confidence, self-regulation, and a pattern for developing other relationships.
In general, if parents consistently meet their children’s needs, including comfort, physical affection, basic needs for survival, in a sensitive manner, the children will grow with attachment security.
A secure attachment is a crucial factor for the development of children’s emotional, cognitive, and interpersonal skills.
With attachment security, a person will feel comfortable expressing emotions, more self-confident in relationships, and more likely to cope with negative situations and feelings in healthy ways.
Your child doesn’t have to struggle in silence. No matter their age, we have therapies to help.
Treat Attachment Trauma - Get Attachment Therapy
Through Attachment Therapy, you can work on:
- Understanding the root causes of your attachment issues
- Rebuilding trust and emotional bonds
- Improving self-esteem and emotional regulation
- Creating healthier, more secure relationships
Seeking therapy is a powerful first step toward healing from attachment trauma. Reach out to an experienced therapist today.
Therapeutic Approaches We Use at Innate Therapies
Play Therapy (for children)
Art Therapy / Sandplay
Clayfield Therapy
Trauma-informed Counselling
Attachment-based Therapy
Family Therapy
How will you know when you’re healing from attachment trauma?
You’ll know you’re healing from attachment trauma when you begin to feel safer in relationships, more emotionally balanced, and more confident in who you are.
Signs of healing often include better emotional regulation, fewer outbursts or shutdowns, and a growing ability to trust others and form healthy connections. You may notice that anxiety decreases, boundaries become clearer, and you feel more secure in yourself and your surroundings.
Healing can also show up as increased self-worth, improved resilience when facing challenges, and a greater capacity to reflect and express your needs.
While the process takes time, these small but powerful shifts are signs that your mind and body are moving from a place of protection to a place of connection and growth.