The therapist as attachment figure.

This article focuses on the ways in which psychotherapists Junction as attachment figures for their patients and the implications of this phenomenon for clinical work. It is shown that, although there are multiple commonalities between childhood attachments and the patient-therapist relationship (e.g., the provision of a secure base for exploration), the latter relationship is necessarily mediated by unique temporal, financial, structural, and ethical boundaries that render it significantly different from childhood attachment relationships. Viewing the therapist as an attachment figure can offer new perspectives on therapeutic work, particularly in regard to dealing with boundary issues (e.g., separations and reunions).