“I’m Here, But Am I Seen?” — Attachment and the Politics of Belonging

In one episode of her podcast, Michelle Obama described what it felt like to be the only Black woman in many of the rooms she walked into. She talked about the weight of that experience, not just the responsibility, but the loneliness.

That moment stopped me. Because it echoed what so many of my clients describe, especially those navigating high-achieving spaces while carrying complex identities: “I’m here. But am I seen?”

Listen to the episode: Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson: Break the Generational Patterns Holding You Back

Belonging Isn’t Just About Presence—It’s About Safety

You can be invited into the room and still feel like you have to armor up to stay there.

This is what happens when attachment wounds and systemic exclusion collide. You show up smart, capable, well-prepared; But underneath, there’s a fear:
- If I say how I really feel, will I still be respected?
- If I show emotion, will I be labeled 'too much'?
- If I slow down, will I lose everything I worked for?

These aren’t just mindset issues. They’re nervous system realities shaped by early experiences of not being fully mirrored, understood, or protected.

Attachment Wounds Don’t Disappear When You Succeed

Many high-functioning professionals carry deep, often invisible grief. The grief of always being on guard. Of translating themselves to be understood. Of succeeding, but never fully feeling at home.

That’s not imposter syndrome. That’s a legacy of surviving spaces that weren’t built for you, AND still finding ways to thrive in them.

So What Does Healing Look Like?

It looks like this:
- Reclaiming your right to be fully human in every room.
- Letting go of hyper-independence and allowing support.
- Learning how to regulate your nervous system when the fear of being misunderstood resurfaces.
- Surrounding yourself with mirrors—not just windows. People and spaces that reflect you back to yourself with clarity and care.

This Is Why I Do This Work

I work with high-achieving professionals who are done performing safety. They want to feel it, for real.

And that starts with healing the parts of us that still think we have to earn belonging.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re here, but not fully seen, let’s talk.

Learn more at: www.therapistmirandacampbell.com/lets-talk