We are thrilled to have Dr Una McCluskey speak about:

Exploring the Dynamics of Attachment between Adults and Children: A Guide for Parents and Teachers.

You can book this as a single seminar here through the ‘book online’ link above. Seminars must be attended live on the day. To avail of the recording and full ‘Attachment & Children’ certificate or diploma course benefits and to find out more, click here: https://international-attachment-network.mn.co/

Abstract

This workshop will introduce participants to the concept of an organising principle that connects our basic biological, social and inter-personal aspects of ourselves in such a way as to provide maximum wellbeing. This is known as the Restorative Process. It consists of the interaction between our careseeking self, our caregiving self, our defensive self, our sexual self and our interest-sharing self, along with our internal world and the environment we create to live in i.e., our home, with the overall goal of achieving maximum wellbeing in our social and interpersonal lives. Dysfunction in any aspect of the self will affect the level of wellbeing individuals achieve.

A video of a mother and her infant/toddler will be used to illustrate how one might work with a dysfunctional careseeking caregiving relationship. Through microanalysis of the video, participants will be shown possible ways of working with the mother, which could potentially achieve a much better outcome. Change in the relationship can only be achieved by kick-starting the arousal of exploratory caregiving in the adult and not through advice or an attempt to fix the relationship. The emphasis from this perspective will be on the caregiver’s self-esteem, self-worth and lack of awareness of the impact they have on the child.

Learning Outcomes

Introduction to goal-corrected aspects of the self and their organisation

Introduction to the work of Dr Dorothy Heard and Dr Brian Lake, who identified the Restorative Process

Why the effective functioning of the careseeking self is the driver for change in the Restorative Process

Learning about how microanalysis of interaction can provide a guide for intervention

Re-focusing the emphasis of attachment work on goal-corrected systems and not just the concept of security

About

Dr. Una McCluskey DPhil is an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Yorkand full non-clinical member of the UKCP (now retired from clinical practice). Bestknown for her research in the field of empathic attunement in adult psychotherapy, she introduced the concept that the ‘offer to treat’ arouses the dynamics of attachment in both the careseeker and the caregiver. This concept forms part ofthe emerging therapeutic model called ‘Exploratory Goal-Corrected Psychotherapy’, (EGCP). She developed a theory of interaction for adult psychotherapy based on her extensive investigation of early childhood development and her own and others’ research. She is known nationally and internationally for her contribution to theory and practice in relation to the Dynamics of Attachment in Adult Life. She has published numerous articles and books in the field of couple, family and group psychotherapy as author, co-author or editor.