A805 Attachment Theory in Action

Despite the essential insights Attachment Theory offers into early psychological development, therapists are rarely taught how to integrate its principles in their day-to-day practice. In this course, we’ll focus on how an awareness of attachment issues can be incorporated into clinical practice to establish a deeper and richer therapeutic bond with clients. We’ll explore how therapists’ use of language, posture, emotional mirroring, and emotionally rich questions can help clients regulate their own emotions, enhance their ability to reflect on their actions and life experiences, and enter more fully into the therapeutic relationship.

Meet The Instructor

Daniel Hughes, Ph.D., trains therapists in his attachment-focused methods of psychotherapy nationally and internationally. He’s the author of four books, including Attachment-Focused Family Therapy and Building the Bonds of Attachment.

Course Contents

Session 1: Introduction to Attachment Theory and Its Implications for Psychotherapy • The co-regulation of affect leading to the auto-regulation of affect • The co-creation of meaning leading to reflective functioning • Intersubjectivity: attunement, joint awareness, complementary intentions • Case examples

Session 2: The Self of the Therapist and the Intersubjective Stance • Caring for your client • Developing a coherent narrative for the client • Resolution of therapist’s own attachment history • Case examples

Session 3: The Affective-Reflective Dialogue • The therapeutic attitude of PACE: Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, Empathy • The power of body language • Case examples

Session 4: Insuring the Narrative Flow • Follow-lead-follow • Interactive repair • Talking for and talking about • Trauma resolution and integration • Case examples

Learning Objectives

1. Describe three major ways in which attachment security and intersubjectivity affect human development across the life span.
2. Discuss modifications in the therapeutic stance that can significantly affect a client’s mood and responsiveness.
3. Describe three specific therapeutic interventions that build on the principles of attachment theory.