In childhood, we often choose attachment over authenticity to gain our parents' approval. As a result, our consciousness fragments, and we hide pieces of our soul like Horcruxes from the Harry Potter books, as a defense against vulnerability. We exert effort to ensure no one discovers who we truly are. Depression, personality disorders, and anxiety often stem from this fragmentation of the self.
Canadian psychiatrist and trauma expert Gabor Maté identifies two essential needs in children: reliable attachment and authentic self-expression.
AR helps achieve a sense of wholeness
We reclaim our wholeness, alongside the ability to form deep and close relationships with others. In doing so, we find strength where we once saw only weaknesses.
Practicing Authentic Relating