An investigation of the relationship between clients' internalized shame, shame coping mechanisms, and attachment styles to therapist

The current study examined the relationships between clients' internalized shame, shame-coping mechanisms, and attachment styles to therapist. In addition, clients' attachment styles to therapist were investigated in terms of psychotherapy duration, presence of past therapy experience, psychotherapy orientation, and clients' reasons to apply psychotherapy. Within the scope of the study 200 participants with a mean age of 29.55 (SD = 5.84) who have been in psychotherapy for at least 5 sessions were reached. Data was gathered via online questionnaires: Demographic Questionnaire, Internalized Shame Scale, Compass of the Shame Scale, and Clients' Attachment to Therapist Scale. The findings indicated that there was not any significant relationship between clients' internalized shame, internalizing shame-coping mechanisms, and their secure attachment to therapist. However, there was a significant positive relationship between clients' internalized shame, internalizing shame-coping mechanisms and insecure (fearful-avoidant and preoccupied merger) attachment styles to therapist. In this study, a topic about therapeutic relationship that has not been extensively covered in the literature was studied, and clinical implications were drawn for psychotherapists in line with the research results.