Deep Rooted Wellness
Where broken relationships begin to work again—differently.
Research
an Evidence Based Model of Care
The Repair Model™ was developed through years of clinical work with individuals, families, caregivers, co-parents, and high-conflict relationship systems. This model's foundations are rooted in decades of established research across psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience, child development, family systems, conflict resolution, and relationship science.
The model integrates evidence-based concepts from Attachment Theory, Family Systems Theory, Emotional Security Theory, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Neurobiology, Relationship Research, Behavioral Change Theory, Forgiveness Research, and High-Conflict Family Studies. These disciplines collectively help explain why conflict occurs, how conflict impacts relationships and children, and what conditions are necessary for meaningful repair and lasting change.
Research consistently demonstrates that healthy relationships are not characterized by the absence of conflict. Rather, successful relationships are defined by the ability to regulate emotions, reflect on personal contributions, take responsibility for behavior, communicate respectfully, repair relational injuries, rebuild trust, and reconnect after conflict occurs.
The Repair Model of Care™ organizes these findings into a practical and structured framework known as the Six R's of Repair™:
1. Regulate Before Response™
2. Reflect™
3. Responsibility™
4. Respond Respectfully™
5. Make It Right™
6. Reconnect™
Together, these skills provide a roadmap for moving from emotional reactivity and conflict cycles toward accountability, trust, emotional safety, and relational stability.
The following researchers, clinicians, and organizations represent the primary evidence base that informs the Repair Model of Care™.
The Evidence Base of the Repair Model of Care™
Attachment Theory & Relational Security
John Bowlby, MD
Psychiatrist, Psychoanalyst, Founder of Attachment Theory
Cornerstone Works
* Attachment and Loss, Volume I: Attachment (1969)
* Attachment and Loss, Volume II: Separation (1973)
* Attachment and Loss, Volume III: Loss (1980)
Contribution to the Repair Model
* Human need for connection
* Secure attachment
* Attachment injuries
* Relational safety
* Repair as a pathway toward security
Mary Ainsworth, PhD
Developmental Psychologist, Attachment Research Pioneer
Cornerstone Works
* Patterns of Attachment (1978)
Contribution to the Repair Model
* Secure attachment
* Anxious attachment
* Avoidant attachment
* Disorganized attachment
* Understanding differing conflict responses
Sue Johnson, EdD
Clinical Psychologist, Founder of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
Cornerstone Works
* Hold Me Tight (2008)
* The Practice of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (2004)
* Attachment Theory in Practice (2019)
Contribution to the Repair Model
* Adult attachment relationships
* Emotional responsiveness
* Attachment injuries and repair
* Emotional safety
* Reconnection after conflict
Mario Mikulincer, PhD
Clinical Psychologist, Adult Attachment Researcher
Phillip R. Shaver, PhD
Social Psychologist, Adult Attachment Researcher
Cornerstone Work
Attachment in Adulthood (2007)
Contribution to the Repair Model
* Adult attachment patterns
* Relationship functioning
* Emotional regulation
* Conflict escalation and withdrawal
Key Insight
Connection is not a luxury; it is a biological need. Repair occurs when individuals learn to respond to vulnerability with safety, responsiveness, and emotional accessibility.
Family Systems Theory
Murray Bowen, MD
Psychiatrist, Founder of Bowen Family Systems Theory
Cornerstone Works
Family Therapy in Clinical Practice (1978)
Contribution to the Repair Model
* Triangulation
* Emotional reactivity
* Differentiation of self
* Multigenerational relationship patterns
Key Insight
Individuals do not exist in isolation. Conflict is often maintained by patterns within relationship systems.
Emotional Security & Child Development
E. Mark Cummings, PhD
Developmental Psychologist
Patrick T. Davies, PhD
Developmental Psychologist
Cornerstone Works
* Marital Conflict and Children: An Emotional Security Perspective (2010)
* Marital Conflict and Child Adjustment (1994)
Contribution to the Repair Model
* Emotional security theory
* Child wellbeing
* Impact of conflict on children
* Importance of relational repair
Gordon T. Harold, PhD
Developmental Psychologist
Cornerstone Work
* Interparental Conflict and Youth Psychopathology (2018)
Contribution to the Repair Model
* Family conflict
* Child emotional wellbeing
* Anxiety and depression outcomes
Key Insight
Children are most affected not by conflict itself, but by unresolved conflict and perceived threats to safety and stability.
High-Conflict Family & Co-Parenting Research
Bill Eddy, LCSW, Esq.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Attorney, Mediator, Founder of the High Conflict Institute
Cornerstone Works
* High Conflict People in Legal Disputes (2006)
* Splitting (2011)
Contribution to the Repair Model
* Blame-focused thinking
* Emotional escalation
* High-conflict personality patterns
* Conflict management strategies
Janet R. Johnston, PhD
Clinical Psychologist and Research Psychologist
Cornerstone Works
* High-Conflict Divorce Research (1994–2005)
* In the Name of the Child (2009)
Contribution to the Repair Model
* High-conflict divorce
* Child-centered interventions
* Co-parenting challenges
Joan B. Kelly, PhD
Clinical Psychologist
Cornerstone Work
* Children's Living Arrangements Following Separation and Divorce (2007)
Contribution to the Repair Model
* Parenting plans
* Child-focused decision making
* Reducing conflict exposure
Robert E. Emery, PhD
Clinical Psychologist
Cornerstone Work
* Renegotiating Family Relationships (2012)
Contribution to the Repair Model
* Emotional versus legal resolution
* Family adaptation after separation
Neurobiology & Emotional Regulation
Daniel J. Siegel, MD
Psychiatrist, Founder of Interpersonal Neurobiology
Cornerstone Works
* The Developing Mind
* Mindsight
Contribution to the Repair Model
* Window of tolerance
* Emotional regulation
* Brain integration
Joseph LeDoux, PhD
Neuroscientist
Cornerstone Work
* The Emotional Brain (1996)
Contribution to the Repair Model
* Threat detection systems
* Emotional reactivity
* Amygdala activation
Stephen W. Porges, PhD
Neuroscientist, Founder of Polyvagal Theory
Cornerstone Work
* The Polyvagal Theory (2011)
Contribution to the Repair Model
* Nervous system regulation
* Safety and connection
* Co-regulation
Marsha M. Linehan, PhD
Psychologist, Creator of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Cornerstone Work
* Cognitive Behavioral Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder (1993)
Contribution to the Repair Model
* Emotion regulation
* Distress tolerance
* Interpersonal effectiveness
* Mindfulness
Cognitive & Behavioral Change Research
Aaron T. Beck, MD
Psychiatrist, Founder of Cognitive Therapy
Cornerstone Work
* Cognitive Therapy and Emotional Disorders (1976)
Contribution to the Repair Model
* Cognitive distortions
* Personal responsibility
* Cognitive restructuring
James O. Prochaska, PhD
Clinical Psychologist
Carlo C. DiClemente, PhD
Clinical Psychologist
Cornerstone Work
* Stages of Change Model (1983)
Contribution to the Repair Model
* Readiness for change
* Behavioral change process
* Sustainable growth
Daniel Kahneman, PhD
Psychologist, Nobel Prize Recipient
Cornerstone Work
* Thinking, Fast and Slow (2011)
Contribution to the Repair Model
* Automatic thinking
* Cognitive biases
* Emotional decision making
Communication, Trust & Relationship Repair
John M. Gottman, PhD
Psychologist, Relationship Researcher, Founder of The Gottman Institute
Cornerstone Works
* Why Marriages Succeed or Fail (1994)
* The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work (1999)
Contribution to the Repair Model
* Four Horsemen
* Repair attempts
* Emotional bank accounts
* Trust building
* Relationship stability
Julie Schwartz Gottman, PhD
Clinical Psychologist, Relationship Researcher
Contribution to the Repair Model
* Emotional attunement
* Relationship interventions
* Trust and connection
Key Insight
The success of a relationship is not determined by the presence or absence of conflict, but by the ability to successfully repair after conflict.
Rupture & Repair Research
Edward Tronick, PhD
Developmental Psychologist
Cornerstone Work
* The Still Face Experiment
Contribution to the Repair Model
* Rupture and repair cycles
* Relational resilience
* Connection recovery
Key Insight
Healthy relationships experience ruptures. Strong relationships consistently repair them.
Forgiveness & Reconciliation Research
Robert D. Enright, PhD
Educational Psychologist, Founder of the International Forgiveness Institute
Cornerstone Work
Forgiveness Is a Choice (2001)
Contribution to the Repair Model
* Healing relational injuries
* Forgiveness processes
* Emotional recovery
Everett L. Worthington, Jr., PhD
Clinical Psychologist
Cornerstone Work
Forgiveness and Reconciliation (2006)
Contribution to the Repair Model
* REACH Forgiveness Model
* Reconciliation processes
* Empathy development
Court-Informed & Child-Focused Practice
Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC)
Interdisciplinary Organization of:
* Judges
* Attorneys
* Psychologists
* Mediators
* Mental Health Professionals
Contribution to the Repair Model
* Child-centered interventions
* Parenting plans
* High-conflict family guidelines
* Court-informed best practices
Conclusion
The Repair Model of Care™ is an integrative framework that translates decades of research into practical skills that individuals, families, co-parents, and professionals can apply in real-world relationships.
The model draws from psychiatry, psychology, neuroscience, family systems theory, attachment research, child development, behavioral change science, and relationship research to address one central truth:
Conflict is inevitable.
Repair is learnable.
Healthy relationships are built not by avoiding conflict, but by developing the skills necessary to repair, reconnect, and grow through it.