Understanding the Benefits of Attachment Based Therapy for System Involved Youth and Families

Brooke Hailey, PhD

Training Description

This training will help participants understand the basics of Attachment-Based Therapy and how it can be beneficial for system involved youth (SIY) and families. Partcipants will learn how early relationships profoundly shape human development and emotional well-being. The four attachment patterns (secure, avoidant, anxious and disorganized) will be covered in detail, particularly as they may apply to SIY.  Finally, participants will learn how collaboration between therapists, foster parents, social workers, and educators can provide a consistent and supportive environment which supports improved outcomes for system involved youth. This safe environment will help the deeply rooted patterns of behavior and interaction will begin to shift.

Learning Objectives

· Participants will be able to explain three principles of attachment theory.

· Participants will be able to Identify the four kinds of attachment and explain how each affects relationships.

· Participants will acquire three specific strategies that can be utilized with system involved youth and families to create healthy new attachment patterns.

Agenda

9:00-9:15AM  Introduction: How attachment theory affects my efforts to support system involved youth and families

9:15-9:45AM  John Bowlby and the theory behind Attachment Based Therapy (ABT)

• Explain the importance of early relationships in shaping behavior      and emotional patterns.
• Emphasize the critical role of attachment in a child's development      and well-being.

9:45-10:15AM  Different Styles of Attachment

• Secure Attachment style
• Anxious Attachment style
• Avoidant Attachment style
• Disorganized Attachment style

10:15 -10:30AM  Read Vignettes aloud

• Vignette of Secure Attachment style
• Vignette of Anxious Attachment style
• Vignette of Avoidant Attachment style
• Vignette of Disorganized Attachment style

10:30-10:45AM  Participants will go into breakout rooms and discuss their vignettes

10:45-11:00AM  Participants will share what they discovered in breakout Rooms

11:00-11:30AM  Lunch Break (CE hours will not be offered for this time)

11:30-11:45AM  Discuss the role of caregivers in reinforcing attachment strategies. If caregivers can provide both a secure base from which the child can explore the world and a safe haven for the child to return to, the deeply rooted patterns of behavior and interaction will begin to shift

11:45AM-12:00PM  Share research findings and studies supporting the effectiveness of ABT in treating various mental health issues

12:00-12:15PM  Discuss the long-term benefits of fostering secure attachment

12:15-12:30PM  Share different strategies that help foster secure attachment

12:30-12:45PM  Address the disruptions in attachment experienced by SIY

12:45-1:00PM  Address the effects of unstable placements on attachment and emotional development

1:00-1:15PM  Highlight the unique challenge SIY face concerning attachment due to disrupted early relationships and multiple placements

1:15-1:30PM  Encourage participants to share examples of the attachment issues they have seen in SIY and discuss strategies that might have been helpful

1:30-1:45PM  Break (CE hours will not be offered for this time)

1:45-2:00PM  Introduce Video Presentation: Attachment Issues in Foster care.

2:00-2:15PM  Play Video

2:15-2:30PM  Short discussion about video

2:30-3:00PM  Questions & Answers, Wrap-up

Meet Our Trainer

Brooke Hailey, PhD is a licensed marriage and family therapist. She completed her undergraduate work at New York University and then received her masters from Antioch University and her PhD from Pacifica Graduate Institute. She has been in private practice in Los Angeles for more than twenty years. She is also the owner and clinical director of New Directions, an intensive outpatient program for eating disorders. Brooke works with adults, adolescents, couples and families. Though she specializes in the treatment of eating disorders, Brooke works with clients who have a variety of issues from depression, anxiety and addiction to relationship issues.

This course meets the qualifications for (5.25) BBS CE hours for LCSWs, LMFTs, LPCCs, and LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences & is provided by Fred Finch Youth Center, CAMFT Provider #045295.