About Attunement in Therapy

Attunement is at the heart of meaningful therapeutic connection. Explore therapists on First Session who emphasize being present, responsive, and emotionally connected in their work.

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Attunement refers to the quality of being emotionally present and responsive to another person's inner experience. In therapy, attunement describes a therapist's ability to sense and respond to what you're feeling, often before you've fully articulated it. This creates a felt sense of being understood that can be deeply healing, particularly for those who haven't experienced consistent emotional connection in their lives.

On First Session, you can explore therapists who bring attunement to their practice. While this quality isn't always listed as a specific specialty, many therapists emphasize relational, attachment-based, or emotion-focused approaches that prioritize this way of being together. Watch therapist intro videos to get a sense of their presence and warmth. You might also explore therapists who work with attachment, relationships, or emotional connection.

Lacey Clarke

Registered Therapeutic Counsellor
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Offers In-Person (Victoria, BC)
Virtual Sessions in BC.
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Lacey Clarke

Lacey Clarke

Registered Therapeutic Counsellor
$120/session
Vulnerability, Attachment wounds, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Boundaries and boundary setting, Childhood trauma, Conflict resolution, Deep connections, Existential questions, Ecopsychotherapy, Grief and Loss, Interpersonal dynamics, Meaning and purpose, Men's issues, Mind-body connection, Mindfulness, People pleasing, PTSD, Shadow Work, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Attunement
Vulnerability, Attachment wounds, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Boundaries and boundary setting, Childhood trauma, Conflict resolution, Deep connections, Existential questions, Ecopsychotherapy, Grief and Loss, Interpersonal dynamics, Meaning and purpose, Men's issues, Mind-body connection, Mindfulness, People pleasing, PTSD, Shadow Work, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Attunement
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What is attunement in therapy?

Attunement is the experience of being deeply seen, heard, and understood by another person. In therapy, it describes a therapist's capacity to be emotionally present, to pick up on subtle cues about your inner experience, and to respond in ways that help you feel connected and validated. It's less a technique and more a quality of presence that creates safety in the therapeutic relationship.

Why is attunement important in therapy?

Many people seek therapy because they've lacked consistent attunement in their lives, whether in childhood or in current relationships. Experiencing attunement with a therapist can be reparative, helping you develop a secure sense of connection, learn to trust your own emotional experiences, and build capacity for attunement in other relationships. It's foundational to the healing process.

Who might benefit from therapy focused on attunement?

Anyone can benefit from attuned therapy, but it may be particularly meaningful for those who experienced emotional neglect, have attachment wounds, struggle to feel connected in relationships, find it hard to identify or express emotions, or have felt misunderstood in previous therapy. Attunement helps create the safety needed for deeper therapeutic work.

How do I find a therapist who practices attunement?

While attunement may not always be listed as a specialty, you can look for therapists who emphasize relational, attachment-based, emotion-focused, or humanistic approaches. Reading profiles and watching intro videos on First Session can help you sense a therapist's presence and warmth. Trust your own response to how they come across, as this often indicates their capacity for attunement.

Are there related approaches I could explore?

Several therapeutic approaches prioritize attunement. Emotion-focused therapy (EFT) emphasizes emotional presence and responsiveness. Attachment-based therapy focuses on relational patterns and connection. Humanistic and person-centered approaches value the therapeutic relationship as central to healing. Somatic therapies attend to bodily experience as part of being fully present.

How can First Session help me find support?

First Session connects you with licensed therapists across Canada. Browse profiles and watch intro videos to get a sense of each therapist's relational style. Many therapists offer free consultations where you can experience their presence directly and ask about their approach. Both online and in-person options are available.