Attachment-based Therapy & Counseling Course (Certified )

What is attachment theory? John Bowlby's studies of children who were removed from their primary caregivers served as the impetus for the development of attachment theory. According to his theory, stable bonds made with caregivers during infancy lay the groundwork for long-term, healthy psychological functioning.

Later,through her "Strange Situation" study, Mary Ainsworth built on Bowlby's work by classifying various attachment types according on how babies reacted to being separated from and then reunited with their caregivers. Our knowledge of child development was completely transformed by this ground-breaking theory, which has since been used in a variety of settings, such as adult relationships and therapeutic interventions.

The Lausanne Trilogue Play and Still Face experiments are two cutting-edge techniques in developmental psychology that are used to examine parent-child relationships. When engaging with their child, the caregiver in the still face experiment keeps their face neutral, makes few vocalizations, and uses few bodily movements. This sudden shift in behavior can cause the kid to feel confused, distressed, and disconnected, underscoring the significance of attentive and responsive parenting in the development of young children. Conversely, the Lausanne Trilogue Play is a methodical approach to observation that entails watching families play together. Using this approach, researchers can examine how family dynamics affect the outcomes of children. Both methods are crucial because they offer insightful information on the intricacies of parent-child relationships.

Attachment styles refer to the way individuals form and maintain relationships with others, primarily influenced by their early experiences with caregivers. The four main attachment styles identified in childhood through the SPS will be assessed in this class.

A secure attachment style is characterized by a healthy balance of independence and interdependence in relationships, stemming from consistent caregiving during childhood. What is the consequence of an insecure attachment in adulthood? Let's learn together some observable signs.

How well a person copes with life situations is expected to be associated with attachment style.

It is thought that positive relationships promote resilience in a person’s life, which should result in a greater ability to cope with negative or stressful circumstances. Attachment wounds can impair the way we cope with tension and conflictual relationships, let's see how.

Internal working models or IWM are cognitive frameworks that individuals develop through their early attachment experiences. These models shape perceptions of oneself and others, as well as expectations regarding relationships. Attachment theory posits that the quality of attachment formed in infancy influences later social and emotional functioning. Let's see how.

Part and parcel of understanding relational issues is getting to know one's attachment style.

Here’s where the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) enters the equation. In this class I will explain how this interview works and how to carry on effective assessment with several tools.

Please, watch the video below and draw your conclusions about the results.

Personality disorders and attachment styles are closely related concepts in psychology that greatly influence an individual's behavior and relationships. Personality disorders refer to enduring patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that deviate from cultural expectations, resulting in difficulties in social interactions and functioning. These disorders often stem from maladaptive attachment styles developed during childhood, such as anxious, avoidant, or disorganized attachments.

In this lecture we will explore how the brain regulates emotions and the importance of social interactions, with a special focus on the dyad. Therefore, we will learn about neuroplasticity, neural circuits and latest research on the developing brain.

How does mentalization affect personality? Mentalization, the ability to understand and interpret one's own mental states and those of others, plays a crucial role in personality disorders formation. In fact, individuals with PDs often struggle with accurately perceiving and interpreting thoughts, emotions, and intentions, which can lead to difficulties in forming and maintaining healthy relationships.

In this class we will assess together the case of Leisha. I will present you as well interactive tools and methods used in Mentalization Based Therapy.

By unifying attachment theory and psychoanalytical tradition, we obtain an integrative model bridging unconscious  processes to real experiences. In this first lecture we will delve into the psychodynamic approach and possible strategies to adopt within the practice of ABT.

Anxiety and Depression are affective disorders with a strong association with dysregulation of attachment patterns. In this class you will learn how to approach both disorders through the lens of ABT.

Complex trauma: what is it? I will address this exact question in this presentation. Additionally, you will learn how to establish appropriate and successful strategies for relational trauma.

Now, I'll present you three distinct cases, each of which deals with complex trauma, anxiety, and depression.

In this presentation, I will provide an overview of the theory and techniques utilized in the Internal Family Systems framework, which can be a strong paradigm for resolving attachment wounds, particularly affective and personality disorders and trauma.

What is IFS's perspective on the Self? And what role does self-individuation play in establishing enduring relationships? We will learn together the fundamental tasks of therapists in creating a well developed and secure setting for patients.

We are finally read to see how IFS techniques can be applied in the practice. I offer here a series of simple activities and dialogues to be performed.

This is an overview of the Three-pillar model developed by Brown and Elliott. Each "pillar" is a dimension of functioning known to be an important aspect of secure attachment, so their integration in therapy leads to comprehensive, effective, and efficient treatment. Together we will explore the mechanisms behind attachment repair which involves  the delicate activation or deactivation of these systems.

In this first stage, the therapist helps the patient to imagine feeling as a young child and to create and engage with imagined ideal parent figures (IPFs) and secure attachment experience with them.

Existing approaches that promote metacognitive functioning, such as Mentalization-Based Treatment (MBT), are integrated into the Second Pillar. In addition, a wider range of metacognitive potentials are included, and new techniques too.

The Third Pillar places specific focus on collaborative  and non-collaborative verbal and non-verbal behavior of the patient and the therapist.  This step is fundamental, as it's the co-creation of imagined secure attachment.

This last lecture will delve into style-specific interventions and the integration of multiple techniques.