Summary: <p>Attachment Theory: Implications for Treatment<br> Instructor: Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes<br> Executive Director, AllCEUs Counselor Education<br> Objectives<br> ~ Review Attachment Theory<br> ~ Identify stages of distress<br> ~ Discuss the benefits of secure attachment<br> ~ Explore the effects of insecure attachment<br> ~ Learn about different attachment styles and their associated problems<br> ~ Hypothesize interventions to create secure attachment regardless of age.</p> <p>Infancy and Attachment<br> ~ Attachment<br> ~ Attachment is the quality of the relationship with the caregiver characterized by trust, safety and security.<br> ~ The quality of the infant-parent attachment is a powerful predictor of a child’s later social and emotional outcome<br> ~ Determined by the caregiver’s response to the infant when the infant’s attachment system is ‘activated’<br> ~ Beginning at six months old, infants come to anticipate caregivers’ responses to their distress and shape their own behaviors accordingly (eg, developing strategies for dealing with distress when in the presence of that caregiver)<br> ~ Sensitive, Responsive, Loving = Secure<br> ~ Insensitive, Rejecting or Inconsistent = Insecure<br> Attachment cont…<br> ~ The primary attachment figure remains crucial for approximately the first two years of life<br> ~ Forming this attachment is almost useless if delayed until after two and a half to three years<br> ~ If the attachment figure is broken or disrupted between ages 1 and 5, the child may suffer irreversible long-term consequences.<br> ~ Bifulco (1992) Women who had lost their caregiver through separation or death doubled their risk of depressive and anxiety disorders. The rate of depression was the highest in women whose caregivers had died before the child reached the age of 6.<br> Internal Working Model<br> ~ Children’s attachment with their primary caregiver leads to the development of an internal working model which guides future interactions with others.<br> ~ 3 main features of the internal working model<br> ~ a model of others as being trustworthy<br> ~ a model of the self as valuable<br> ~ a model of the self as effective when interacting with others<br> Adult Attachment<br> ~ Adult attachment style refers to systematic patterns of expectations, beliefs, and emotions concerning the availability and responsiveness of close others during times of distress<br> ~ Often among multiple people with one primary attachment<br> ~ Provide a bidirectional attachment relationship which provides adults with a secure base that they are able to depend on a daily basis.</p> <p>Attachment<br> ~ Psychological problems can increase attachment insecurity.<br> ~ Davila et al found that late adolescent women who became less securely attached over periods of 6 to 24 months were more likely than their peers to have a history of psychopathology<br> ~ Among soldiers with PTSD Attachment anxiety and avoidance increase over time, and the increases are predicted by the severity of PTSD symptoms</p> <p>Three Progressive Stages of Distress</p> <p>~ Protest: The child cries, screams and protests angrily when the caregiver leaves. They will try to cling on to the caregiver to stop them leaving.<br> ~ Despair: The child’s protesting begins to stop, and they appear to be calmer although still upset. The child refuses others’ attempts for comfort and often seems withdrawn and uninterested in anything.<br> ~ Detachment: If separation continues the child will start to engage with other people again. They will reject the caregiver on their return and show strong signs of anger.<br> Effects of Secure Attachment<br> ~ Learn basic trust, which serves as a basis for all future emotional relationships<br> ~ Develop fulfilling intimate relationships<br> ~ Maintain emotional balance<br> ~ Feel confident and good about themselves<br> ~ Enjoy being with others<br> ~ Rebound from d</p>
