#4 Attachment Theory III: The Neuroscience of Attachment Artwork

Good Enough Shrink

We are child psychiatrists practicing in the Los Angeles area on a mission to demystify psychiatry and mental health. The title of this podcast is a tribute to the psychoanalyst, Donald Winnicott, and his concept of the "Good Enough Parent.” This is the idea that the imperfect but sufficient provisions of a parent will build a resilient child in an imperfect world. We want to empower children and parents to embrace their strengths and flaws, and know that you are good enough.

We want to emphasize the power of holding difficult emotions from the lens of attachment theory. Attachment theory is based on the idea that humans need a social bond with another to survive. This bond, when it is “good enough”, serves as a secure base from which a child can explore the world. When this attachment is disrupted, it can lead to emotional issues, and sometimes full-blown psychiatric disorders. This is where therapists and psychiatrists come in.

This podcast is for the curious adults, parents, family members, mental health professionals and trainees. So we hope you join us in this adventure to explore science and mental health from a developmental perspective.

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Good Enough Shrink

#4 Attachment Theory III: The Neuroscience of Attachment

September 03, 2024 • Dr. Jenna Cheng, Dr. Patrick Kelly • Season 1 • Episode 4

0:00 | 48:56

We are back! In this episode, we talk about attachment theory from a neuroscientific and neurobiological perspective. We highlight how talking about our emotions can help us regulate them, and make room for empathy and "mentalizing" other people's experiences. We also discuss how attachment trauma can disrupt brain development, and how mindfulness and staying attuned to your body can mitigate this. Finally, we discuss the categorization of attachment experience in the DSM, and the importance of understanding the etiological basis of mental health conditions for effective treatment.

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