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When is Attachment Healthy?

  • by
Dr Belinda Ratcliffe

12 July 2026

From an evolutionary and developmental psychology perspective, human beings thrive when they feel seen, soothed and safe. These qualities, which form the foundation of secure attachment, help us flourish in our relationships and communities, fostering connection, resilience, and wellbeing. Through mindfulness and compassion practice, we can learn to cultivate these same qualities within ourselves and extend them to others through our presence, attention, and care. In this way, psychology and contemplative traditions share a common aim: cultivating the conditions for human flourishing, within ourselves, our relationships, and the wider world.

Two questions for our members to discuss in the breakout room session:

  1. Can you recall a time when you felt truly seen, soothed and safe? What was present in that experience?
  2. How might you cultivate and offer these qualities, to yourself and/or someone else in the coming week?