(Re)Building Trust: Introducing the Healthy Adult Attachment Cycle

Trust is a central component of healthy adult relationships, yet many discussions of attachment focus primarily on identifying attachment styles rather than understanding the processes through which trust and security are developed. This article introduces the healthy adult attachment cycle, a conceptual framework designed to help clinicians and couples understand how secure attachment is built and maintained in adult intimate relationships. Drawing from attachment theory, Emotionally Focused Therapy, and the Gottman Method the framework organizes relationship functioning into four interconnected domains: Needs, Emotions, Relating, and Trust. Clinical applications are discussed, highlighting how the model can support couples in therapy. The Healthy Adult Attachment Cycle offers clinicians a practical and integrative approach to fostering secure attachment and relationship health.