Principles of PACT:

• Attachment: attachment theory explains our biological need to connect with others. Beginning from childhood and early relationships, we develop a blueprint that impacts our sense of safety and security within adult relationships. When these early experiences go unaddressed, we begin to play it out in ways that are maladaptive to our relationships. When acknowledged within relationships, we can then care for each other from a place of understanding and work towards a more secure love.

• Neuroscience: building an understanding of what is happening in the brain in relationship can help bridge more understanding for the human actions and reactions that we have. We are built for survival and depending on the context of what is happening and early childhood experiences, certain parts of our brain may go into survival mode. 

• Regulation: When survival instincts turn on, we act in self-protective ways which can be harmful to others. Learning the art of de-escalation and being able to manage emotions/feelings helps to bring each partner back into a place of listening and understanding each others perspectives. 

• Attunement: Being close to our partners is crucial and because of this, we may respond quickly and with an automatic response - potentially causing more distance in the relationship. During session, we gently learn to track subtle shift in tone, facial expression, and body language. All to help each partner recognize within themselves and within the relationship their responses, and how it may affect one another.