Attachment issues and co-dependency are closely connected and it is often the case that individuals with anxious or avoidant attachment styles may be more prone to developing co-dependent behaviours in relationships.  This can present as seeking validation and security, either through their excessive caregiving or else their need for control.

Co-dependency is characterised by an over-reliance on another for ones sense of self-worth, emotional wellbeing and identity.  Codependent individuals often prioritise the needs of others, sometimes at their own expense and may struggle with setting healthy boundaries. 

Individuals with insecure attachment styles (anxious-preoccupied or dismissive-avoidant) may struggle with trust, intimacy and emotional regulation, potentially leading to co-dependent behaviours.

Counselling can help us to better know ourselves and the role that we assume within our key relationships by looking at our earliest attachments (where we first learnt how to interact with others) and challenging what we have maybe accepted as ‘just being who we are.’  It can also lead to a fuller understanding of others we are in relationship with and why they act and think the way they do.