Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy: An Attachment-Based Treatment for Children Who Have Experienced Abuse and Neglect

This presentation focuses on the treatment of children and youth who have experienced intrafamilial, interpersonal trauma. This treatment is informed by the theories associated with attachment, intersubjectivity, and trauma. Since attachment is understood as being fundamental to the child’s development of a sense of safety and security and since it is associated with many factors involved in the development of social, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral skills, its relevance in the treatment of trauma (defined in part as the absence of safety) is compelling. Infant intersubjectivity is a well-established theory of how infants learn about self, others, and the world, and its relevance in how older children re-learn such fundamental psychological realities when their original learning was embedded in experiences of abuse and neglect is also worth serious consideration by those who provide treatment to such children.

Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy facilitates safety and new learning through the relationship that the abused and neglected child has with his therapist and actively works to replicate the characteristics of this relationship with one or more of the child’s attachment figures in his daily life. These attachment figures are actively engaged and the caregiving behaviors that will facilitate secure attachment in the child in their care are actively supported and developed. This Web Conference will present central features of this treatment including the attitude of PACE (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, Empathy) and the open and engaged, affective-reflective dialogue that is utilized throughout explorations of past traumas and current life experiences.

This introductory web conference is designed to help clinicians:

1. Describe the importance of psychological safety from the perspectives of both attachment and neuropsychological theories and research;
2. Clarify three central characteristics of intersubjectivity and their relevance to psychological treatment;
3. Describe how the therapist maintains safety for the child or youth while actively exploring past traumas and current secondary symptoms;
4. Explain two principle ways that the therapist facilitates the ability of the child’s attachment figure(s) to provide the child with psychological safety.

If you have any questions about this Web Conference or would like more information, please contact us here.

Continuing Education (CE) Information

1.5 CE credits will be provided by GoodTherapy.org for attending this web conference in its entirety.

GoodTherapy.org is also an Approved Education Provider by NAADAC, The Association for Addiction Professionals (provider #135463). Of the eight counselor skill groups ascribed to by NAADAC, this course is classified within counseling services.

GoodTherapy.org is an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEPTM) and may offer NBCC-approved clock hours for events that meet NBCC requirements.

GoodTherapy.org is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. GoodTherapy.org maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

GoodTherapy.org, SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #0395.

To receive CE credit hours for an archived event, you will need to complete a survey as well as a 12 or 15-question exam, verifying that you listened to or watched the event in its entirety. Archived CE events generally are considered "homestudy" by licensing boards.

Registration Information

Premium and Pro Membership with GoodTherapy includes access to this web conference at no additional cost, as well as other member benefits such as a profile listing in GoodTherapy's Therapist Directory. Not yet a member? Sign up for a Premium or Pro Membership, here.

Just want CE credits? Sign up for a monthly or annual CE Subscription with GoodTherapy to get unlimited access to our CE Program, including this event, other live CE web conferences, and hundreds of hours of homestudy courses.

Mental health professionals who are not members can attend this live web conference for $30.95 or access the homestudy recording for $15.50. Sign up here to purchase this CE course and earn a CE certificate.

If the event is canceled by GoodTherapy, registrants who purchased the event will be notified and the charge for the event will be refunded

If you have any questions or would like information regarding disability accommodations, please contact us.

• Register NowPlease Login to Member's Area
• Not a Member?Click here for information on membership