EMDR for dismissive avoidant attachment offers a powerful way to process without feeling pressured to talk through every emotion. Because EMDR works through the nervous system, you only need to share a “headline” of what you’re experiencing and not every single detail. This allows avoidant clients to expand emotional capacity and vulnerability at a pace that feels safe to them.

At Two Lights Therapy Center in Chicago, we believe nearly every emotional struggle has one thing in common: attachment trauma. Whether you’re healing from narcissistic abuse, chronic anxiety, or painful relationship patterns, our attachment-focused EMDR approach helps you address the root and not just the symptoms.

Couples therapy with a dismissive avoidant partner can feel discouraging when your partner keeps shutting down or getting irritated. Learn why starting with individual therapy often creates more safety, privacy, and space to practice vulnerability, setting the stage for couples work that actually heals instead of hurts.

Anxious-preoccupied attachment is often misunderstood and, too often, mocked. Behind the fear of being “too much” is deep self-abandonment and vulnerability to narcissistic abuse. If you find yourself overgiving, second-guessing your worth, or chasing love that hurts, it’s time to come home to yourself. Two Lights Therapy Center offers support for individuals with anxious-preoccupied attachment styles and narcissistic abuse recovery in Chicago.

Wondering if you’re dealing with a narcissist or fearful avoidant? While they can look similar on the surface—hot-and-cold behavior, emotional withdrawal, or hypersensitivity—their core motivations are different. This blog breaks down how to tell the difference, how attachment wounds can mimic narcissism, and what it really takes to navigate conflict with a fearful-avoidant partner.

If you’ve been left reeling from a confusing, emotionally volatile relationship, you might be wondering whether your partner was a narcissist or a dismissive avoidant. The truth is, antagonistic dismissive avoidants can look a lot like narcissists, especially when their fear of intimacy turns into resentment, cruelty, or perceived abandonment. Understanding the difference can help you make sense of the chaos. Start therapy today.