The International Attachment Network (IAN-UK) and Support for Relationships and Families (SRF) are working together to create a space in which you can learn about how secure attachment is fundamental to the life of an individual, and its necessity in order to create safer communities.

This conference is aiming to provide a platform for sharing researchers’ views and front line services’ knowledge and good practice supporting the development of secure attachment in relationships within families, impacting positively in the future of our society. We believe in dialogue between researchers and practitioners, and want to facilitate this dialogue to learn from one another in light of attachment theory. The conference will also have spaces for networking and reflective groups designed to foster such dialogue.

We will be joined by speakers from across the attachment field presenting on a range of topics critical to family and community attachments.

Topics include an exploration and critique of attachment aware schools, the concept of attachment to ‘home’ among migrants and within migrant families, domestic and sexual abuse in minority families, gendered attachment dynamics between mothers and daughters, and the experience of loneliness within the family unit.

Speakers, through presentation of family and community based case studies will elucidate the understanding of attachment styles as not in fact fixed patterns, but rather as dynamic trajectories across lifespans, as evoked by important life events, and between generations. The process of formation of new attachments in childhood, in psychotherapy and across the lifespan will be examined from the respective perspectives of reflective dialogue, bodily enactment and direct bodily contact.

We will also explore some of the current successful models of family/ community based therapeutic interventions. Clinicians from the Anna Freud Early Years Parenting Unit (EYPU) London,  the Centre for Interfamily Therapy Elche Spain, the Angelou Centre Newcastle UK, and the organisation Vital Development, will present on their exciting work in this area.

We are also delighted to be joined by Sir Richard Bowlby, son of John Bowlby, who will open the conference, and by Dr Robbie Duschinsky of University of Cambridge who as archivist of John Bowlby’s work will present his insight on Bowlby’s published and unpublished perspectives on trauma and abuse.

Who is this conference for?

• Psychologists and Therapists
• Teachers/Educators
• Social Workers
• Researchers and Students with a especial interest in attachment theory.
• Anyone interested in the application of attachment theory.

Who are the speakers?

We will be joined by speakers from UEL, Bath Spa University, UCL, The Angelou Centre, SRF, The Anna Freud Centre, Vital Development, Centre for Interfamily Therapy in Spain, Middlesex University and independent professional practitioners and writers with years of experience in both the understanding and knowledge of attachment theory and its application to diverse settings.

The programme is available here: Strengthening Attachment in Families and Communities Programme 

Abstracts are available here: Strengthening Attachment in Families and Communities Abstracts

Concessions and day rate tickets

Concession rates are available for IAN Members, SRF Members, students, Erasmus+ and people aged 65+.

Day tickets are available for attendees who are unable to attend the three conference days, although we hope you can join us for the full program.

Early birds

If you don’t have a concession you can profit from our early birds discount! Available until the 20th September at 11pm.

Any questions?

If you need any further information, or have any special requirements, contact us by email on admin@ian-attachment.org.uk or serefo.info@gmail.com