Attachment Styles Therapy
with Dr. Ivey Burton
I specialize in helping people untangle relationship patterns so they can be safe, connected, and securely attached.
Do you find yourself repeating the same relationship patterns?
Worry whether your partner really loves you?
Wondering why closeness always feels scary?
Attachment patterns are deeply ingrained and shaped by early experiences. Without awareness and support, they can quietly influence your relationships, leaving you stuck in cycles that are hard to break.
People Come To Me When They’re:
Can’t be emotionally vulnerable
Struggle to trust
Pull away emotionally
Repeat conflicts + cycles
Wonder if they’re “broken”
"The heart holds patterns,
but therapy can rewrite the script.”
How My Attachment Styles Therapy Helps
In our work together, I guide you in recognizing what shapes your relationships and give you tools to respond vs. reacting. We’ll set meaningful goals so you can track progress toward building trust, openness, and emotional safety.
I draw on approaches like:
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Exploring the emotions that drive attachment needs.
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Identifying patterns rooted in early experiences.
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Cultivating present moment awareness and improving emotional regulation.
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Applying new skills in real-life situations.
Together, we’ll uncover the roots of your attachment so you have healthier relationships with yourself and others.
Results After My Attachment Styles Therapy
After working together, clients often report they:
Lean into closeness without pulling away
Feel grounded, authentic and at home within themselves
Have greater self-awareness and improved insight
Release need for constant “proof of love”
Streamline conflict resolution
Therapy with me isn’t about “fixing” you- it’s about helping you understand and work with the way you connect, so relationships feel fulfilling instead of exhausting.
Client Testimonials
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I was a newcomer to therapy - driven to it by the grief and uncertainty I experienced about the death of my mother. It was a hard step to take but one of the best decisions of my life. It brought me to Dr. Ivey Burton.
I believed it would be a straightforward process but starting to unravel one issue led to another. Through it all, Ivey kept me focused on my goals for the last years of my life. Each session began there and enabled me to keep that as the focus. Even though my sessions with Ivey have come to an end, I find myself returning to the strategies she helped me to learn each day. Time with her was a gift!
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I was laid off in 2023 and hit a low point in my life. I was depressed, dealing with a lot of anxiety, having relationship problems, and drinking heavily which only made everything significantly worse. For about 10 years I was caught in a cycle of working during the week and drinking all weekend until I couldn’t remember anything. I knew I wanted and needed a change but all of my friends did the same thing so there wasn’t anyone I could really talk to.
I also had a fear of being very alone if I gave it up. I decided to try therapy and met Dr. Burton. I was nervous going into the first meeting but Dr. Burton is very kind and understanding and I felt very comfortable speaking to her. We met regularly over a few months and she taught me a number of techniques for dealing with the anxiety and depression.
She offered lot of great advice and insight when it came to interviewing for jobs and approaching my relationship as well. Dr. Burton also uses a mindfulness approach that really helps you focus on the present and put the things you are dealing with into perspective. Most importantly to me, she gave me a ton of encouragement and the confidence…has changed my life for the better. I can’t say enough great things about the experience I had with her.
About Me
As a therapist and someone who has navigated relationships of my own, I understand how powerful and challenging connection can be.
For over three decades, I’ve helped people uncover their attachment patterns and develop deeper self-awareness. I believe in creating a safe space where curiosity and compassion guide the process.
I listen closely, ask thoughtful questions, and offer concrete strategies you can use right away. My approach balances depth and humor, helping clients engage with challenges in a more manageable way.
Outside of therapy I’ve been a lifelong athlete and am currently a masters swimmer, cyclist, and an avid hiker who has climbed Kilimanjaro, the Himalayas, the Andes and, closer to home, the Sierra Nevada range. I share my home (and much of my heart) with my two furry children. I’m also a devoted music fan who enjoys playing piano and finding inspiration in live music. These experiences remind me of the importance of balance, persistence, and joy in life – the values I also bring to my work as a therapist.
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, California School of Professional Psychology, Los Angeles (1994)
M.A. in Clinical Psychology, California School of Professional Psychology (1992)
B.A. in Psychology, Rice University (1986)
Licensed Psychologist, California Board of Psychology #14900 (1996–present)
In practice for 33 years
Past teaching appointments at UCLA School of Medicine and King Drew Medical Center
Member, American Psychological Association
Member, Association for Contextual Behavioral Science
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Depression and Anxiety (Russ Harris, M.D.) (2024)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Perfectionism and People Pleasing (Russ Harris, M.D.) (2024)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Grief and Loss (Russ Harris, M.D.) (2023)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills (Marsha Linehan, Ph.D.) (2023)
Education, Credentials, & Trainings
4 Steps to Get Started
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Fill out the contact form. No perfection needed, share as much or as little as you need to.
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We’ll chat for 15 minutes. You can ask questions, feel me out, and see if therapy with me is the right next step.
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I’ll get to know what you are currently struggling with, your history, and make a plan on how we will approach our work together.
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Regular sessions to understand your triggers, provide tools for grounding, and help you reclaim a sense of being present and in control of your life.