A heart shaped lock drawn in pink and purple lines

Bravo Insider Exclusive

To read this article, you must have a Bravo subscription.

The Daily Dish Below Deck Mediterranean

João Franco Has "Some Inner Conflicts and Confusion" With Attachment, Says a Therapist

The Below Deck Mediterranean yachtie found himself in the middle of quite the love triangle.

By Marianne Garvey
João Franco Walks Off Set Over Brooke Laughton

Despite João Franco and Brooke Laughton's relationship issues this season of Below Deck Mediterranean, the yachties headed off together to Florence in the Below Deck Mediterranean Season 3 finale. 

How to Watch

Watch Below Deck Mediterranean on Peacock and the Bravo app

But fast-forward to this season's reunion, and we find out about João's continued — and sometimes flirty — communications with Kasey Cohen.

João and Brooke had actually remained a couple for six months after the end of the charter season, he confirmed to The Daily Dish earlier this season, but after the reunion, a upset Brooke said that she would be spending the night (after the reunion) alone. 

João revealed that he, Brooke, and Kasey all got together to speak about what went down at the reunion immediately afterward. "What happened afterwards was myself, Kasey, and Brooke sat together, and we spoke it through," he said. "And Kasey had admitted in the sense that everything was slightly exaggerated and her points that she was getting across weren't what she was trying to say."

 

So, what do we do when someone isn’t fully attached in a relationship? 
Personal Space asked Dr. Liz Lasky for advice, and she says João could be keeping women on the side because of some "inner conflicts" he may be going through.
"We see him want to be with Brooke ... Yet at the same time, he is keeping women on the side," Dr. Lasky says.  "You see him keeping in touch with Kasey, texting her, calling her, and depending on her especially when he and Brooke were fighting. Does this mean that he doesn't love Brooke? No. But it means that he has some inner conflicts and confusion with attachment. Many people hope for solid and true attachment and commitment in relationships, but this is not always the case."
Dr. Lasky says everybody has an "attachment pattern" that comes to life in our relationships.
"Feelings come up for people in relationships and we all have attachment patterns. Solid and trusting attachment looks like two people who feel very connected and have no desire to go outside of the relationship," she says, adding, "Different types of attachment can take various forms. There are different levels of attachment: secure, insecure, anxious, fearful, disorganized, and preoccupied to name a few." 
When João leans on other women, it has nothing to do with how much he loves someone, it has to do with his attachment pattern, she explains.
"We can see that he is upset that he is hurting Brooke," Dr. Lasky says. "He is in pain over this relationship and his inability to fully commit. We can see that he wants to do better. This is an important thing to notice because learning new ways to attach and connect with people can be learned."
Her biggest recommendation?

"Get a really good therapist, or a relationship coach like me. Attachment is one of the things I work on with clients."

Want the latest Bravo updates? Text us for breaking news and more!