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Yearnings: Stories of Insecure Attachment and the Journey to Connect to God

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Title	Yearnings: Stories of Insecure Attachment and the Journey to Connect to God
Author	Bracy, John
Abstract	Utilizing grounded theory and the semi-structured interviews of25 participants, this study sought to understand how an insecure attachment affects one's relationship with God. Participants' stories suggested that: I) one's struggle to connect with God was a part of their struggle to connect with others; 2) that experiencing others as safe and responsive contributed to building a more secure attachment with God; and 3) that attachment is less a fixed style and more of an ongoing process: defined as gradual changes made by the participants towards the set-goal of feeling safe and secure. Four major processes were identified: I) finding what works; 2) a safe community; 3) significant time and energy given to creating secure relationships; and 4) being able to distinguish feelings about God and critical parent. Participants' stories appeared to suggest that a safe community may facilitate a more secure attachment to God and others and provide a potential means of affect regulation during times of distress. Community is suggested to mediate affective responses of participants during times of distress by: I) providing a bridging function between insecure participants and God through helping participants feel safer and more secure as they seek a closer relationship with God; 2) soothing participants' fears as they begin to experience intimacy; and 3) helping to create new safe images of God. Implications for clinical practice included suggestions for: I) incorporating attachment or relational language to help bridge the gap between client therapist religious background differences while tapping into the strengths and resources of a client's religious beliefs and heritage; 2) utilizing small groups within a client's faith community as another potential solution for developing healthy relationships and personal resources; and 3) helping clients create a positive image of God through experiencing others as caring and responsive as a therapeutic intervention in developing a more secure attachment. Limitations and directions for future research were also discussed.
Discipline	Marriage and Family Therapy
Department	Marriage and Family Therapy
School	School of Science and Technology
Advisor	Knudson-Martin, Carmen
Degree Name	Doctor of Philosophy
Degree Level	Ph.D.
Year Degree Awarded	2011
Date (Title Page)	2011-06
Language	English
Subject - LCSH	Attachment behavior Spiritual life
Subject - Local	Insecure Attachment; Connecting to God
Type	Dissertation
Page count	159 p.
Digital format	Application/PDF
Digital Publisher	Loma Linda University Libraries
Copyright	Author
Usage Rights	This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.
Citation Information	To cite the digital version, include its Reference URL, found by following the link in the gray header above the digital file.
Collection	Loma Linda University Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Collection Website	http://archives.llu.edu/colls/lludis
Repository	Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

Title	Page 1
Full Text	LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY School of Science and Technology in conjunction with the Faculty of Graduate Studies Yearnings: Stories ofInsecure Attachment and the Journey to Connect to God by John Bracy A Dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Marriage and Family Therapy June 2011

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