2 Day Conference

Rationale for Training

Just how important is a child's quality of attachment with primary caregivers? What are the essential characteristics of a parent/child relationship that will promote emotional well-being and mental health across the life span? What are the danger signs and implications of an unhealthy attachment? Once established, can unhealthy attachment patterns be altered?

Throughout the world, for those in the field of mental health, there is a dramatically increasing interest in evidence-based studies regarding attachment in children and adults. Current university and clinical research is making it clear that for those with unhealthy attachment, the basic capacities for emotional health are severely compromised. Proper diagnosis and treatment of this population is thus becoming a priority for those involved with intervention and prevention.

The Circle of Security Project is an internationally acclaimed intervention protocol designed to support secure attachment in high-risk populations. This two day video-based seminar will utilize the Circle of Security approach to clarify the specific ways a child's secure attachment to caregivers supports the development of capacities for emotional health later in life. This seminar will then clarify how, within the context of an unhealthy attachment, development of these capacities is hindered substantially.

The objectives of the two day seminar will be to offer a comprehensive and user-friendly overview of attachment theory. Particular attention will be given to the essential features of both healthy and unhealthy attachment. Participants will learn new ways to understand the central characteristics of secure attachment and its importance across the life span.

Goals of the Two Day Training

- Provide a user-friendly overview of attachment theory
- Offer video examples of specific attachment patterns, clarifying the characteristics of secure, insecure, and disorganized attachment
- Integrate attachment theory with current research in brain development and affective neuroscience
- Explore practical applications regarding how an understanding of unregulated affect and the fundamentals of secure attachment can be integrated into basic treatment strategies for individuals and dyads that display struggles in attachment.

Please note:

This two day Introduction to the Circle of Security Approach (or any previous two day introduction by one of the authors of Circle of Security) is a requirement for all those interested in taking a follow-up 8 Day Training in Assessment and Treatment Planning that will be offered. This advanced training will be limited to 50 people.