Attachment Focused Assessment in Couples Therapy

In this breakout, you’ll learn how to assess couples through an attachment lens—shifting from what’s wrong with each partner to what’s happening between them, and the good reasons why. We’ll explore how to take an attachment history, identify negative cycles early, and how to keep an attachment frame toward your couples. You’ll also gain guidelines for screening for the appropriateness of couples therapy. Walk away with a grounded, relational framework that transforms your first sessions into the beginning of meaningful change. 

Objectives:

• Differentiate attachment focused assessment from traditional psychological/diagnostic assessment. 
• Identify the components of assessment in couples therapy. 
• Identify how to screen for appropriateness for couples therapy. 

About Mandy McHugh, LCSW:
Mandy McHugh, LCSW, BAS, Certified EFCT Therapist, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in private practice in Oklahoma City, where she specializes in working with couples and individuals navigating challenges in their most important relationships. With more than 25 years of experience across child welfare, medical social work, and community mental health settings, and a decade co-leading a group private practice, Mandy brings a broad, grounded perspective to her clinical work.  Mandy has been working with couples for the past 15 years and has spent the last five years in solo practice, where she enjoys the depth and focus of providing high-quality, attachment-based therapy. She is known for helping clients make sense of complex and often confusing relational dynamics in a way that feels clear, grounded, and compassionate. In addition to her clinical work, Mandy is a board-approved supervisor for social work licensure candidates. She is passionate about creating a safe, authentic, and growth-oriented space for supervisees as they develop their clinical voice and skills.