Attachment-Focused Trauma Therapy in Alberta

Maybe you pull away just when someone gets close. Maybe you hold on too tightly, or read rejection into a late reply. Maybe you keep choosing people who can't show up for you, and then blame yourself when it goes wrong.

When the people who were supposed to care for you were frightening, absent or unpredictable, you learned early how to stay safe in relationships. Those lessons made sense then. They can be updated now. KP Psychological offers online, attachment-focused trauma therapy for adults across Alberta, including Edmonton and Calgary. Sessions are by secure video, for people who are physically in Alberta at the time of each session.

Book a free 15-minute consultation

A woman holding a mug and smiling, looking out a window at the evening light

What attachment trauma is

Attachment is the bond between a child and the people who care for them. When that bond is a reliable source of comfort, children learn that they matter, that feelings can be managed, and that other people can be trusted.

Attachment trauma is what happens when the bond itself is the source of harm or fear: abuse, neglect, a parent who was often drunk, depressed or absent, being sent away, or growing up with constant criticism. Researchers writing in the European Journal of Trauma & Dissociation in 2024 describe it as the long-lasting biological, psychological and relational effects of emotionally overwhelming experiences within an attachment relationship.

It isn't always dramatic. Sometimes it's what didn't happen: no one noticed, no one asked, no one came.

How it can show up in adult life

Attachment wounds tend to surface where closeness matters most: partners, friends, your own children, and how you treat yourself. You might notice:

  • fear of being abandoned, or of being smothered
  • pushing people away, then feeling alone
  • trouble trusting kindness, or waiting for the other shoe to drop
  • people-pleasing, or finding it hard to say no
  • a harsh inner voice that says you're too much or not enough
  • strong reactions in relationships that seem bigger than the moment
  • feeling numb or shut down when things get emotional

The UK Trauma Council describes how complex trauma can add problems with managing emotions, negative beliefs about yourself and difficulty in relationships to the core symptoms of PTSD. Those three areas are where attachment trauma lives.

In this video, Kyle describes some signs of childhood trauma in adults.

What the research says

Trauma-focused therapy for childhood trauma. In a randomized trial of 155 adults with PTSD from childhood trauma, published in the British Journal of Psychiatry in 2020, up to 12 sessions of EMDR reduced PTSD symptoms substantially (effect size 1.73), and imagery rescripting did about as well. Depression, dissociation and trauma-related beliefs improved too, and dropout was low, at 7.7%.

Adult-onset versus childhood trauma. An older trial found that EMDR worked well for both, but people whose trauma began in childhood were less likely to be fully symptom-free six months later than those whose trauma started in adulthood (33% versus 75%). That's one reason attachment-focused work takes more time and goes beyond single memories.

Relationship and time. The UK Trauma Council notes that complex trauma "may require more sessions and more focus on developing a trusting relationship." NICE's PTSD guideline says the same, and recommends building in extra time to develop trust and to work on relationship difficulties and negative self-beliefs.

Resourcing. EMDR therapists often begin with resource development, such as strengthening felt memories of being cared for or capable, before processing painful ones. It's widely used and helpful for many people, though it has been studied less than EMDR itself.

How EMDR can help with attachment trauma

EMDR is built on the idea that overwhelming experiences get stored with their original fear, images, beliefs and body sensations, and keep getting triggered in the present. Attachment trauma is often hundreds of small moments rather than one event. EMDR can work with that:

  • We map the pattern, not just the memory. Together we find the beliefs that run your relationships, such as "I'm unlovable" or "people leave," and trace them back to the experiences that taught them.
  • Resourcing comes first. We build up felt experiences of safety, care and strength, sometimes using people, pets or places, real or imagined, so you have somewhere solid to stand.
  • We process "touchstone" memories. Working through the earliest, clearest examples often loosens the whole pattern, so later memories need less work.
  • Parts and ego-state work. A younger part of you may still be waiting for someone to come. Getting to know that part, and letting your adult self care for it, is part of the healing.
  • The relationship is part of the work. Feeling safe with your psychologist, being able to say "that's too fast" and being heard, is itself corrective.
  • You set the pace, and nothing happens without your consent.

Who you'd see

  • Kyle Poon, R.Psych focuses on EMDR and trauma-focused therapy, including complex PTSD, childhood trauma and dissociation. He is an EMDRIA Approved Trainer and Consultant. Kyle currently has a waitlist.
  • Marissa Whalley, R.Psych also works with trauma and PTSD, and is an EMDR Therapist. She currently has openings, often as soon as the following week.

What therapy looks like here

Sessions are 50 minutes, by secure video. How often we meet is up to you. We work it out together, based on what fits you best, including your finances and your coverage.

A session is $250 with Kyle and $235 with Marissa. Alberta Health Care doesn't cover psychologists, but many extended health plans do, and we can bill most insurance companies directly. We also accept Veterans Affairs Canada, RCMP, NIHB, WCB-Alberta and the Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program. See fees and insurance for details.

Common questions

I don't remember much of my childhood. Can this still work?

Yes. EMDR doesn't need a complete story. We can start from what you feel now, in your body and in your relationships, and follow it back as far as it goes. Gaps in memory are common after early trauma.

My childhood wasn't "that bad." Does this apply to me?

Attachment trauma is often about what was missing rather than what was done. If you recognize yourself in the patterns above, it's worth a conversation, whatever label fits or doesn't.

Will this help my current relationship?

Attachment work changes how you respond in relationships, which often changes the relationship. If you'd like to work on things together with your partner, we also offer couples therapy.

How long does attachment-focused therapy take?

Longer than therapy for a single event, because there are patterns and many memories to work with, and trust comes first. We'll review progress together along the way.

Do you bill insurance directly?

We can bill most insurance companies directly, so you only pay the part your plan doesn't cover. Tell us your plan at your free consult, and we'll confirm before your first session.

Book a free 15-minute consultation

Written by Kyle Poon, M.Ed., R.Psych, EMDRIA Approved Trainer and Consultant · Reviewed September 2026

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