• Cathy Penny

    Registered Social Worker | RRP MSW/RSW

    Languages: English

    Specialty: Anxiety, Depression, Mood Disorder , OCD, PTSD/trauma, Couples , Emotional Dysregulation , Anger Management , Career Exploration / Decision making, Health and Wellness , Health Recovery – rehabilitation, Life Transitions, Grief and Loss, Self Esteem , Return to Work, Disabilities / Special Needs, Neurodivergence, Caregiver stress, Women’s Issues, Workplace Stress / Burnout, Communication , ADHD/ADD, Aging , Adjustment Disorder, First Responders , Injured Workers, Separation Divorce, Family Conflict

  • Michelle Pennells

    Art Therapist/Counsellor | HBA, DTATI

    Languages: English

    Specialty: Individuals, Adolescents, Children, Families, Foster Families/Children, Trauma, Grief, Victims of Abuse, Self-esteem, Identity, Parenting, Life Transitions, Suicide Ideation/Self-Harm, ADHD, ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder), FAS (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome), Feeling/Emotion Recognition and Management, Bullying, Spiritual Counselling

  • Rev. Chad Tomlinson

    Registered Psychotherapist | MTS, MEd, MA, OCT, Rev., RP

    Languages: English

    Specialty: Individual (Teens And Adults), Couples, Family, Repairing a Relationship , Communication, Conflict Resolution, Boundaries, Affair Recovery, Addiction (eg., Drinking, Food, Pornography), Self Esteem, Finding Happiness, Improving Emotions (eg., Anger, Anxiety, Depression, Guilt, Jealousy), Healing the Past, Being Nicer to Yourself, Perfectionism/Workaholism, ADD

Cathy Penny

Registered Social Worker | RRP MSW/RSW

Languages: English

Specialty: Anxiety, Depression, Mood Disorder , OCD, PTSD/trauma, Couples , Emotional Dysregulation , Anger Management , Career Exploration / Decision making, Health and Wellness , Health Recovery – rehabilitation, Life Transitions, Grief and Loss, Self Esteem , Return to Work, Disabilities / Special Needs, Neurodivergence, Caregiver stress, Women’s Issues, Workplace Stress / Burnout, Communication , ADHD/ADD, Aging , Adjustment Disorder, First Responders , Injured Workers, Separation Divorce, Family Conflict

Michelle Pennells

Art Therapist/Counsellor | HBA, DTATI

Languages: English

Specialty: Individuals, Adolescents, Children, Families, Foster Families/Children, Trauma, Grief, Victims of Abuse, Self-esteem, Identity, Parenting, Life Transitions, Suicide Ideation/Self-Harm, ADHD, ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder), FAS (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome), Feeling/Emotion Recognition and Management, Bullying, Spiritual Counselling

Rev. Chad Tomlinson

Registered Psychotherapist | MTS, MEd, MA, OCT, Rev., RP

Languages: English

Specialty: Individual (Teens And Adults), Couples, Family, Repairing a Relationship , Communication, Conflict Resolution, Boundaries, Affair Recovery, Addiction (eg., Drinking, Food, Pornography), Self Esteem, Finding Happiness, Improving Emotions (eg., Anger, Anxiety, Depression, Guilt, Jealousy), Healing the Past, Being Nicer to Yourself, Perfectionism/Workaholism, ADD

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Attachment Styles

Mary Main examined how parents internalized their early connections and experiences and, thus, how they related in the present. She outlines four typical patterns emerged:

# 1 Autonomous

Children of these kinds of parents are generally securely attached. They are described as self-reliant, objective, insightful, and able to incorporate both positive and painful memories into their narrative. These parents seem to have a balanced and realistic view of what it means to relate to others.

# 2 Dismissive

Children of these kinds of parents generally have an ‘avoidant attachment pattern’. Parents considered dismissive in their attachment pattern recall their early attachments with their parents as indifferent. They may idealize parents but do not recount the closeness of the relationships. These parents are typically a little more detached, appear strong and independent but hold onto feelings of disappointment and hurt.

# 3 Preoccupied

Children of these kinds of parents generally display an ‘ambivalent attachment pattern’. Parents considered preoccupied in their attachment pattern tend to be confused about their past relationships and struggle with recounting their experiences. They can become flooded with memories that elicit feelings of anger and conflict about a desire to please, which are sometimes hard to manage.

# 4 Disorganized

Their children tend to also display ‘disorganized patterns of attachment’. Parents considered disorganized in their attachment display a myriad of patterns remembering their early childhood experiences. Often these parents have experienced early childhood traumas, abuse and/or neglect.

Main’s research on attachment patterns and how they are transmitted helps us understand the process by which our parents become a part of us and we become a part of our children.

Our programs and therapists help parents identify their attachment patterns and strategically coach them towards strong attachment relationships that will strengthen the child’s sense of self and their place in their world.

We teach parents ways to respond to their child’s behaviour that will lead to more harmony at home and a closer parent-child bond.

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  • We’ve supported 35,000+ individuals.
  • We have completed over 300,000 sessions to date.
  • We have a countrywide network of therapists.

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