Attachment and survival in the face of Covid-19

This article aims to explore some of the implications of the coronavirus pandemic on attachment-based psychotherapy practice, in the wider context of lockdown in a traumatised society fighting for survival. In the midst of this unprecedented crisis, it is a duty for psychotherapists and other mental health professionals to carry on working with emotionally vulnerable people, maximising the use of digital technology. The article suggests that this traditional duty may fall short under exceptional circumstances and, so, it might become necessary to go beyond the comfort of the consulting room — in order to address problems effectively in the social, cultural, and political arenas. This article includes an ongoing piece of online clinical work with a patient recovering from psychosis, whilst further reflecting on the current health, economic, and social emergency.