Cumulative Childhood Trauma and Therapeutic Alliance: The Moderator Role of Attachment in Adult Patients Consulting in Sex Therapy

ABSTRACT

While it is documented that clients consulting in sex therapy tend to report high rates of childhood interpersonal traumas (e.g., physical, psychological and sexual abuse), which are associated to insecure attachment and poorer therapeutic alliance, the interrelations of these variables have not yet been evaluated in this specific population. This study examined the associations between attachment, cumulative trauma and therapeutic alliance in 278 sex therapy patients who filled out self-report questionnaires. Results revealed that avoidant attachment acted as a moderator between cumulative trauma and the agreement on tasks dimension of therapeutic alliance. Results suggests the relevance for sex therapists to investigate past traumas and current attachment representations to guide interventions and optimize treatment benefits.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Quebec Research Fund–Health (Fonds de Recherche du Québec–Santé) and by the Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Intimate Relationship Problems and Sexual Abuse (Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire sur les problèmes conjugaux et les agressions sexuelles).