PACT was developed by Dr. Stan Tatkin and draws on three areas of science: attachment theory (how we bond and seek security), developmental neuroscience (how the brain forms relationship patterns), and arousal regulation (how our nervous systems calm or escalate). The core idea is that much of what happens between partners is fast, automatic, and below conscious awareness — driven by old survival wiring more than by what either person consciously intends.

In PACT-informed sessions, your therapist pays close attention to moment-to-moment cues: tone, facial expressions, posture, and the subtle ways your bodies react to each other in real time. Rather than rehashing the week’s arguments, the work happens live, in the room, where you can practice new ways of staying connected and regulated. The goal is a “secure-functioning” relationship — one where you become each other’s safe haven. It complements our broader couples and marriage counseling.

Because PACT focuses on the nervous system, it can reach couples who feel “talked out” — who understand their problems but still can’t stop the same painful patterns from taking over.

PACT can be a strong fit if your conflicts feel bigger than the issues that trigger them, if one or both of you shut down or flood during arguments, or if you’ve done other therapy but still don’t feel safe together. Because the work is experiential and attachment-based, it pairs naturally with Emotionally Focused Therapy, and your therapist may blend approaches based on what your relationship needs.

Our attachment-focused couples therapists, including Amanda Heaton, LMFT, Kim Millett, LCSW, and Holly Martinez-Voisin, LCMHC, draw on psychobiological and attachment principles in their work with couples. When you reach out, our intake specialist will help you find the right match.