Attachment styles shape how we love, argue, pull away, cling, shut down, or stay silent in relationships—but most people don’t realize they formed long before adulthood.
In this episode of Roots & Attachment, Denver trauma therapist Erika Baum, LPC, breaks down how attachment styles develop, why they exist, and why they are not personality traits or character flaws.
Through a relatable story and nervous-system-based explanation, you’ll learn how early caregiving experiences wire the brain for connection, protection, and survival—and why these patterns still show up in adult relationships today.
This episode is for you if:
You’ve ever wondered “Why do I react this way in relationships?”
You struggle with closeness, conflict, or emotional vulnerability
You identify with anxious, avoidant, or fearful attachment patterns
You want to heal attachment wounds without shame or self-blame
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
What attachment styles actually are (and what they’re not)
How attachment patterns form in early childhood
Why babies “borrow” nervous systems from caregivers
The real purpose of anxious and avoidant attachment styles
Why attachment styles are survival strategies—not flaws
How early adaptations show up in adult relationships
Why healing attachment isn’t about fixing yourself
How attachment patterns can change over time
Key Takeaway
Your attachment style isn’t who you are.
It’s what worked when you had no better options.
And anything learned for survival can be gently updated.
About the Host
Erika Baum, MA, LPCC, NCC is an attachment-focused trauma therapist based in Denver, Colorado. She specializes in treating relational trauma, C-PTSD, and attachment wounds using EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), mindfulness, and nervous-system-based approaches.
Learn more about Erika’s work, therapy intensives, and attachment-focused resources at:
👉 https://www.denverattachmentcounseling.com/
Relevant Keywords
attachment styles
anxious attachment
avoidant attachment
fearful avoidant attachment
secure attachment
attachment trauma
childhood trauma
nervous system regulation
trauma therapy Denver
EMDR therapy Denver
IFS therapy
relationships and attachment
healing attachment wounds
Roots and Attachment podcast
