Beyond Attachment Styles: Secure Relating & Trauma Healing with Dr. Ann Kelley, Therapist Uncensored
Jul 8, 2026
Attachment styles aren't your identity. Dr. Ann Kelley explains secure relating, modern attachment theory, trauma healing, nervous system regulation, relationship repair, shame reduction, and why emotional security is something we actively practice—not something we permanently achieve.
How can we, as therapists, help people better understand themselves, improve their relationships, and reduce the shame that accompanies emotional struggles that are often rooted in relational trauma?
It’s a basic question at the root of our work and host Emily Ruth invites psychologist, author, and fellow podcaster Ann Kelley, Ph.D., to address it by demystifying the principles of modern attachment theory. Ann draws on her clinical work, research, and experience as co-creator of the podcast Therapist Uncensored to present a compassionate, up-to-date view of attachment that replaces rigid labels with practical strategies for meaningful relational growth.
The conversation also delves into the importance of remaining curious and willing to challenge the limits of our own educational or experiential bias as information evolves. This skill is on full display in Secure Relating: Holding Your Own in an Insecure World, the book Ann co-authored with her “neuronerd” colleague and co-host Sue Marriott, LCSW, CGP.
Transforming Trauma thanks Ann for sharing her hopeful yet practical approach to psychological growth. She shares meaningfully on what it means to explore our attachment patterns without judgment or predetermined outcomes.
To read the full show notes and discover more resources, visit https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/transformingtrauma
SPACE:
SPACE is an Inner Development Program of Support and Self-Discovery for Therapists on the Personal, Interpersonal, and Transpersonal Levels offered by the Complex Trauma Training Center. This experiential learning program offers an immersive group experience designed to cultivate space for self-care, community support, and deepening vitality in our professional role as therapists. Learn more about how to join.
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The Complex Trauma Training Center:
https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com
View upcoming trainings:
https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/schedule/
Join us for this a transformative 2-day Intro to NARM® online workshop:
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The Complex Trauma Training Center (CTTC) is a professional organization providing clinical training, education, consultation, and mentorship for psychotherapists and mental health professionals working with individuals and communities impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Complex Trauma (C-PTSD). CTTC provides NARM® Therapist and NARM® Master Therapist Training programs, as well as ongoing monthly groups in support of those learning NARM. CTTC offers a depth-oriented professional community for those seeking a supportive network of therapists focused on three levels of shared human experience: personal, interpersonal & transpersonal. The Transforming Trauma podcast embodies the spirit of CTTC – best described by its three keywords: depth, connection, and heart - and offers guidance to those interested in effective, transformational trauma-informed care.
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