Foundations in Attachment

1.5 CEUs*

*pre-approved by the MN Board of Marriage and Family Therapy, MN Board of Social Work, MN Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy, and MN Board of Psychology

 The principles of attachment theory are central to the understanding of children’s early and ongoing need for consistent, predictable, and nurturing relationships. We recognize that the capacity for attachment is a built-in necessity which has been biologically programmed into both children and their caregivers. Children need secure relationships to flourish. Secure relationships shape the architecture of the developing brain and construct the neurological scaffolding required for self-regulation, the development of the self and successful navigation of relationships. Because we are social creatures, we learn to adapt to our social environment in ways that keep us connected to our caregivers, even when there is a cost to ourselves. Without healthy attachments, children can develop a broad range of emotional and interpersonal problems.

Course Objectives

• Learn more about the main functions of attachment.
• Become familiar with the Strange Situation Protocol and the attachment categories.
• Consider how early attachment patterns can impact later development and social-emotional functioning.