Sensory Approaches, Attachment Theory, and Self-Regulation

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Everyone experiences the world in unique ways based on their individual neurological systems, which have developed over time in an intricate and complex interplay between our genetic endowment, our sensory systems, and our past experiences of the world and the people in it. Convincing evidence has shown that people with mental illness and trauma histories have differences in their sensory processing patterns and also that they are more likely to be insecurely attached. In recognition of this, occupational therapists have shown a rapid increase in interest in the implementation of sensory approaches in mental health over the last 20 years. The relevance of attachment theory and the interrelationship between sensory and attachment systems have more recently been recognised in occupational therapy, with the recognition that these two systems develop at the same time within the same environmental conditions. In this chapter, an overview is provided of our sensory system, our attachment system, the interplay between these two systems, and the relevance of these systems in the fields of mental illness, trauma, and substance use. Understanding the sensory and attachment systems and the interrelationships between these can inform person-centred and trauma-informed occupational therapy for people with mental illness, ultimately improving occupational performance for clients with mental health conditions.