Healing Attachment Wounds in Children and Families

Course overview

Saving safe, secure, and trusting emotional attachments as a child with parents and caregivers is a basic human need. Attachment styles developed in childhood stay with us for a lifetime, and influence our emotional security, the personal meaning we give to experiences, and our ability to create and maintain closeness, trust, safety, and stability in intimate relationships. Early attachment experiences wire brain circuits, create core beliefs and narratives, and form the template for future relationships. Disrupted, anxious and disorganized attachment often results in depression, anxiety, shame, aggressive and self-destructive behaviors, toxic relationships, and physical illness. This intermediate level webinar is appropriate for mental health, social services, and child welfare professionals. You will learn the theory and clinical skills necessary to facilitate positive change and healing with clients who have experienced trauma and attachment wounds. You will learn effective assessment and therapeutic techniques to help children, adults, couples and families, based on the latest research and clinical advancements in trauma and attachment therapy, family systems therapy, neurobiology, and post-traumatic growth. Clinical videos will illustrate the process of change regarding: negative core beliefs and attitudes; developing attachment security in children and adults; trauma-based emotions, behaviors, coping strategies, and somatic reactions; self-regulation; communication, family dynamics and resilience; and helping controlling, defiant, angry and resistant clients. Via PowerPoint presentation, video case studies, and discussion, you will learn how to help clients achieve symptom reduction, healing from trauma, meaningful friendships, and fulfilling lives.