DMM Adult Attachment Interview Assessment

Comprehensive attachment evaluation using the Dynamic-Maturational Model – providing deep insight into your relational patterns and personalized treatment roadmap.

What is the Adult Attachment Interview?

The Dynamic-Maturational Model (DMM) Adult Attachment Interview is a comprehensive assessment protocol providing unparalleled insight into your attachment patterns, defensive strategies, and relational dynamics. Developed by Patricia Crittenden, PhD, the DMM goes far beyond self-report questionnaires or brief online assessments.

Unlike online quizzes that rely on conscious self-perception, the DMM uses a trained clinician’s analysis of your narrative patterns – how you tell your story, not just what you say – to identify attachment strategies you may not be aware of.

How the DMM Adult Attachment Interview Works

The assessment involves a semi-structured interview (approximately 2 hours) conducted by a DMM-trained professional. Through guided questions about your childhood experiences, family relationships, and current relational patterns, the interview reveals:

Your primary attachment strategy – Secure, anxious, avoidant, or disorganized patterns using precise DMM classifications
How past experiences shaped your current relational approach – Understanding developmental influences on adult behavior
Defensive strategies you may use unconsciously – Protective patterns developed in childhood still affecting relationships
Specific areas for therapeutic growth – Targeted recommendations based on your unique profile
Personalized treatment roadmap – What therapeutic approaches are most effective for your attachment pattern

Whether you’re considering individual therapy or couples therapy, the DMM provides a clear treatment roadmap.

The DMM framework is particularly valuable for understanding complex attachment presentations and developmental trauma that simpler assessments miss. Many clients find the DMM transformative – finally understanding why they respond the way they do in relationships.

Who Benefits from the DMM Assessment?

The DMM Adult Attachment Interview is ideal for:

Individuals seeking deep understanding of relationship patterns before beginning therapy
Therapy-experienced clients who want comprehensive attachment evaluation beyond previous work
People considering attachment-focused therapy and wanting clear diagnostic insight to guide treatment
Couples exploring how attachment dynamics interact (individual assessments recommended for each partner)
Mental health professionals seeking their own attachment clarity for personal growth or professional development
Those who’ve tried therapy before without understanding root challenges – The DMM often provides missing puzzle pieces

This Assessment is Particularly Valuable If You:

Notice the same patterns repeating across different relationships
Feel stuck despite previous therapy attempts
Want to understand how childhood experiences impact adult relationships
Are considering long-term, depth-oriented therapy and want a roadmap
Experience anxiety, avoidance, or confusion in intimate relationships
Struggle with emotional regulation, trust, or vulnerability
Are healing from attachment injuries or relational trauma

The DMM serves self-reflective, depth-oriented individuals seeking specialist-level insight, not quick fixes. This assessment is an investment in understanding yourself at the deepest level.

What Your Assessment Reveals

Your DMM Adult Attachment Interview provides:

1. Comprehensive Attachment Classification

Primary attachment strategy – A, B, C, or A/C patterns in DMM terminology (secure, avoidant, anxious, or disorganized)
Secondary patterns and defensive strategies – How you protect yourself unconsciously
How your attachment style manifests in different relationship contexts – Work, friendships, romantic relationships, parenting

2. A Detailed Written Report (10-15 pages)

Narrative summary of your attachment development – How early experiences shaped present patterns
Specific protective strategies you employ – Why you respond the way you do
Areas of strength in your relational capacity – What’s working well
Targeted recommendations for therapeutic growth – What to focus on in therapy

3. A Personalized Treatment Roadmap

Specific therapeutic approaches best suited to your attachment pattern – Schema Therapy, Coherence Therapy, Ideal Parent Figure Protocol, Mentalization-Based Therapy, etc.
Sequence of treatment focuses – What to address first, second, third for maximum effectiveness
Estimated therapy timeline based on your presentation
Integration strategies for your unique pattern – How to work with your attachment style, not against it

4. Results Consultation Session (60 minutes)

Comprehensive review of findings together via secure video
Opportunity to ask questions and clarify insights
Discussion of how assessment informs treatment planning
No pressure – the assessment is valuable even if you don’t continue with therapy

The DMM Assessment Process

Step 1

Initial Consultation (15 minutes, phone)

Brief conversation to confirm the assessment is right for you, answer initial questions, and schedule your interview session. We’ll discuss:

What you hope to learn from the assessment
Your relationship history and current challenges
Whether the DMM is the right tool for your goals
Logistics, timeline, and payment

Step 2

Interview Session (2 hours, video)

Semi-structured interview conducted via secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth video. I’ll guide you through questions about:

Your childhood experiences and family relationships
Significant life events and losses
Current relational patterns and challenges
How you respond to stress, conflict, and intimacy

The interview is recorded (with your consent) for detailed transcription and analysis. Recording ensures accuracy and allows me to analyze narrative patterns beyond conscious content.

What to expect: The interview feels conversational, not interrogative. You’re encouraged to share openly, but there’s no pressure to disclose more than you’re comfortable with. Memory gaps are normal and meaningful – the DMM works with incomplete memories.

Step 3

Transcription & Analysis (1-2 weeks)

After the interview, I:

Professionally transcribe the interview (verbatim)
Analyze using the DMM framework
Identify attachment patterns, defensive strategies, and treatment recommendations
Prepare a written report (10-15 pages)

This analysis takes time – attachment classification requires careful review of narrative structure, not just content.

Step 4

Results Consultation (60 minutes, video)

We meet via secure video to review findings together. You’ll receive:

Verbal explanation of your attachment classification – What your pattern means and how it functions
Written report (10-15 pages) – Yours to keep and share with future therapists if desired
Personalized treatment recommendations – Specific next steps for healing
Opportunity for questions – Clarifying insights, discussing implications, exploring therapy options

Timeline: 3-4 weeks from initial consultation to results consultation.

Assessment Results & Recommendations

After your results consultation, you decide what’s next. Options include:

Option 1: Begin Therapy with Me

If we’re a good fit and I have availability, you can transition directly into trauma-informed attachment therapy. The assessment provides a clear treatment roadmap, accelerating therapy progress.

Current availability: Accepting new clients with 2-3 week wait for initial sessions.

Option 2: Take Findings to Another Therapist

Your assessment report is yours to keep and share. Many clients complete the DMM with me and take findings to a therapist in their insurance network, closer to home, or with different specialties.

The report provides valuable guidance for any attachment-informed therapist.

Option 3: Use Insights for Self-Directed Growth

Some clients complete the assessment for clarity without immediately pursuing therapy. The insights alone can transform self-understanding and relational patterns. You can always return to therapy later.

There’s no obligation to continue therapy. The DMM stands alone as a valuable diagnostic tool providing clarity, validation, and direction.

Investment & Scheduling

DMM Adult Attachment Interview Assessment: $500

Includes:

15-minute consultation call
2-hour interview session (recorded with consent)
Professional transcription and DMM analysis
10-15 page written report
60-minute results consultation session
Personalized treatment recommendations

Payment

Payment due at time of interview session
Credit card, debit card, or HSA/FSA accepted via secure client portal
Superbills not applicable – The DMM is an assessment service, not ongoing treatment. Some insurance plans reimburse psychological testing; contact your insurance for verification.

Scheduling

Assessments are typically scheduled 2-3 weeks out to ensure adequate analysis time. Interview sessions are available during regular business hours via secure telehealth.

Colorado residents only – You must be physically located in Colorado during the interview and results consultation to comply with licensure requirements.

Schedule Your DMM Assessment

Questions? Email Me

Frequently Asked Questions

The DMM-AAI is the most comprehensive attachment evaluation available. Unlike self-report questionnaires (ECR, ASI) that rely on your conscious self-perception, the DMM uses a trained clinician’s analysis of your narrative patterns to identify attachment strategies you may not be aware of. It’s particularly effective for complex presentations, developmental trauma, and nuanced attachment dynamics.

No. Many clients begin therapy without formal attachment assessment. The DMM-AAI is valuable if you want deep diagnostic clarity before committing to long-term therapy, or if you’re therapy-experienced and want to understand why previous treatment may not have addressed root patterns. It’s optional, never required.

The DMM-AAI is an individual assessment. However, both partners can complete separate assessments, and I can provide a joint consultation (additional fee) discussing how your attachment patterns interact. Understanding each partner’s attachment style often transforms couples dynamics.

Memory gaps are themselves meaningful data in the DMM framework. The assessment evaluates not just what you remember, but how you organize and narrate your experiences. Many people with childhood trauma have limited early memories – the DMM is designed to work with this.

Yes. Your report is yours to share. Many clients complete the assessment with me and take findings to a therapist in their insurance network, with different specialties, or closer to home. The report provides valuable treatment guidance for any attachment-informed therapist.

No. The DMM assesses attachment patterns, not disorders. Everyone has an attachment style – secure or insecure variants. The assessment helps you understand your relational patterns, whether you’re struggling significantly or simply curious about yourself. It’s for anyone seeking depth and clarity.

From initial consultation to results consultation: 3-4 weeks. This includes scheduling, interview, transcription, analysis, and feedback. Rush processing is not available – thorough analysis requires time.

You can complete the DMM while working with another therapist. The assessment provides clarity that enhances ongoing therapy. Discuss with your current therapist – they may appreciate the insights for treatment planning.

Additional Questions?

Let me know if you need some help and didn’t find an answer to your question.

Contact Me

Ready to Understand Your Attachment Patterns?

The DMM Adult Attachment Interview provides clarity, validation, and direction for healing. Whether you’re preparing for therapy, deepening existing work, or simply seeking self-understanding, this assessment offers insights that transform relationships.

I offer a free 15-minute consultation call to discuss whether the DMM is right for you. There’s no pressure or obligation, just an opportunity to explore.