Reflective Functioning Coding Services
Reflective functioning is the capacity to understand behavior in terms of the thoughts, feelings, wishes, and intentions that may be behind it. It involves being curious about our own experiences and those of other people, while recognizing that we cannot always know exactly what someone else is thinking or feeling.
As a licensed professional counselor with a particular interest in attachment and mentalization, I offer reflective functioning coding services for research projects. I trained under Howard Steele to earn my Certificate of Reliability in Reflective Functioning Coding through the Center for Attachment Research in June 2026.
What is Reflective Functioning?
Reflective functioning coding provides a structured way to evaluate how people make sense of their own and others’ internal experiences within interview narratives. The focus goes beyond whether someone can name an emotion or describe an event. It considers how they connect feelings, thoughts, and intentions with behavior and relationships.
For researchers studying attachment and mentalization, this can offer a way to examine individual differences in how people understand themselves and others.
My Background and Approach
My clinical work is grounded in psychodynamic and attachment-focused approaches. I am especially interested in how early relationship experiences shape our understanding of ourselves, our expectations of other people, and the patterns we bring into relationships.
That interest also informs my research work. I value careful attention to the nuances of a person’s narrative and a thoughtful, consistent approach to coding.
Discuss Your Project
If you are seeking a reflective functioning coder, please reach out with a brief description of your project, the interview material you are using, and your anticipated timeline. We can discuss fit, availability, and rates.
