AFFECTIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND ATTACHMENT THEORY: Considerations for therapeutic practice

A two-day workshop to be facilitated by Dagmar Edwards MSc, UKCP regd., Director of Psychology Matters

Monday 11 July 2011    10.00 am - 5.30 pm   

Tuesday 12 July 2011    10.00 am - 5.00 pm

Fee: £125.00

About the workshop:

"From the perspective of neuroscience, psychotherapy can be understood as a specific kind of enriched environment designed to enhance the growth of neurons and the integration of neural networks" (Cozolino, 2002)

This workshop provides an opportunity to engage with recent contributions from affective neuroscience and studies of infant development.  Participants will be invited to explore and discuss the interface between research in affective neuroscience and attachment theory and the importance of relational connection and the architecture of the brain.  Exploring common factors from current research, and considering how these contributions can be integrated into therapeutic practice, will be key themes of the workshop.  Participants will be encouraged to reflect on their own attachment style and the ways in which this might impact the development of therapeutic relationships with their clients.  The following themes will be covered:

Early brain development and the significance of early relationships

Recent contributions to psychotherapy from affective neuroscience including the work of Schore, Siegel, Cozolino and others

Attachment patterns and the development of affect regulation

Traumatic attachment and its effects

Attachment history considerations in relation to psychological contact - empathic attunement and implicit communication processes

Integration and considerations for therapeutic practice.

The workshop will include input on relevant concepts and ideas while also being interactive and experiential.  Participants will be invited to consider and discuss a range of issues with reference to their own practice.

About Dagmar Edwards:

Dagmar is a Director of Psychology Matters, London, and since 1993 has worked as a core tutor, facilitator and supervisor for several psychotherapy training institutes and counselling service providers in the UK.  She is trained in a range of approaches, including Person Centred, Gestalt, and Systemic Family Therapy.  Dagmar has combined her private practice in counselling, psychotherapy, supervision and mediation with work in voluntary sector mental health services in London, both as a team consultant and as a supervisor.

At the Metanoia Institute she is a primary tutor in the Integrative and Person Centred Departments, and an assessor and examiner in the Integrative Department.  Dagmar is a member of the UKCP professional tribunal panel; an Academic Board member of the Institute for Arts in Therapy and Education; and training consultant to Arena Counselling Services.  Her current interests include the integration of affective neuroscience and attachment perspectives into psychotherapy practice.