Attachment-Focused Therapy:  Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy

About the workshop

With attachment security considered to be a protective factor-and attachment disorganization a risk factor-for psychopathology, presented will be principles derived from attachment theory and research.  When events in a child’s life are associated with shame and fear they are best resolved and integrated through re-experiencing them within a relationship with his or her therapist and/or parents who are able to remain present within an accepting and empathic stance.  Within such intersubjective moments between therapist and/or parents and child, the affects associated with the events are able to be co-regulated and new meanings of the event are able to be co-created.  To accomplish this, the therapist must be able to deeply engage the child at the affective, preverbal levels to maintain this engagement in spite of the fear, sadness and anger that the therapy elicits within him.  The therapist must also directly and persistently focus with him on those areas of distress from his past experiences and relationships as well as his current thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and relationships.  Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy represents one model of treatment that incorporates principles of attachment and intersubjectivity to facilitate safety and the coherent organization of the experience of shameful and frightening events. 

This workshop will present and overview of the crucial role of a secure attachment and intersubjectivity on a child's neurological, affective, cognitive, and behavioral development.  The central role in attachment and intersubjectivity in enabling a child to resolve traumatic experiences will also be presented.  Principles and strategies of psychotherapy and parenting which utilize attachment and intersubjectivity will be presented and discussed.

Outline of presentation:

• Normal and Abnormal Developmental Attachment

• Multiple Symptoms of Trauma and Disorganized Attachment

• Attachment Security, Intersubjectivity, and their developmental effects

• Principles of Psychotherapy and Parenting for children and youth with serious attachment problems

• PACE, Intersubjective Presence: attunement, joint attention and intention

• Strategies for Psychotherapy for children and youth with attachment problems: Affective/Reflective Dialogue, Parent-Child Communication, Inner life/behavior: Differentiation and Integration, Connection, Discipline, Interactive Repair, Physical Presence, Community Relationships.