Pre-verbal Grounding

Explore the six requirements for secure attachment, to support calming anxiety pre-verbally.

These six things needed to develop a secure bond of attachment (from the work of Guy Tonella) are:

1. Mutual intentionality 
(Being mutually wanted/interested).

2. Mutual synchronisation. (The ‘mother figure’ follows the baby’s rhythm, lets the baby lead.)

3. Dyadic affective attunement. 
(The ‘mother figure’ attunes to the baby’s feeling states accurately.)

4. Containment of vitality and sensory emotional stress.
 (The ‘mother figure’ helps the baby to contain their energy and feeling states.)

5. Regulations of vitality and sensory emotional stress. 
(The ‘mother figure’ helps the baby to calm their energy and feeling states.)

6. Mutual repair of the failures encountered. 
(The ‘mother figure’ makes successful and meaningful repair when there’s rupture.)