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room as a critique on individual coping nation is, to me, a new formulation of what
strategies. As explained above: exploring, therapists can do. I would very much like
clarifying and validating defenses, feelings to see a future elaboration of this proposal,
and attachment needs will move clients but then linked to and building on attach-
forward in relational direction – better rela- ment theory and therapy. Because, the way
ting to their inner selves, other people, and I see it, Loosemore’s proposal has the po-
God. Maybe I’m a bit too optimistic here, tential of adding theological grounding to
perhaps some criticism on therapeutic cul- attachment needs and thereby strengthens
tures is due. If so, I suspect it is western the viability of these fundamental human
therapeutic culture dominated by cognitive needs for personal value and connection.
behavioral approaches that needs to be cri-
ticized for poorly attending to attachment
needs. But as for individual clients – let’s References
recognize that people are ‘created for con- Gendlin, E.T. (1996). Focusing-oriented psychotherapy: A
nection’ (Johnson, & Sanderfer, 2016) and manual of the experiential method. New York, NY: Guil-
ford.
need to be helped to understand and expe- Granqvist, P. (2020). Attachment in religion and spiritua-
rience this more fully. lity: A wider view. New York, NY: Guilford.
In the end, this seems to be what Loose- Johnson, S.M., & Sanderfer, K. (2016). Created for con-
more is trying to do. He proposes routes nection: The ‘hold me tight’ guide for Christian couples.
to an extension of horizons from individual New York, NY: Little, Brown & Co.
Johnson, S.M. (2018). Attachment theory in practice:
self to the social horizon to the horizon of Emotionally focused therapy (EFT) with individuals,
a Biblical worldview. This is an important couples, and families. New York, NY: Guilford.
proposal, potentialy broadening clients’ McCullough, L., Kuhn, N., Andrews, S., Kaplan, A., Wolf,
view of self and the world to a fuller life in J., & Hurley, C.L. (2003). Treating affect phobia: A manu-
relationship with others and with God. Es- al for short-term dynamic psychotherapy. New York, NY:
Guilford.
pecially the utilization of prophetic imagi-
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