what is PACT?
PACT is the Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy developed by Dr. Stan Tatkin. It is a very active and dynamic approach to working with couples that fuses together comprehensive attachment theory and interpersonal neurobiology. In a nutshell, PACT therapists look at the early infant attachment experiences of each individual in the couple, and how those experiences currently color the ways in which they relate to each other during times of intimacy, trust, and collaboration.
Having a thorough understanding of each partner’s attachment style, the PACT therapist is better able to help the couple identify blind spots in their communication and relational patterns. By also focusing more on HOW the couple fights and not WHAT they fight about, the therapist can in real time interrupt these cycles and enact corrections that are more experiential and long lasting. PACT therapists know that some amount of conflict is normal in human relationships and so why not instead make those conflicts more productive, less distressing, and more quickly repaired.