This is a 2-day webinar. 7/29/26 & 7/30/26, 10 am - 12:30 pm both dates. Formerly titled: Understanding and Intervening with At-Risk Children & Families. Secure attachment has been found to be associated with better social, emotional, and behavioral outcomes of children. Maternal sensitivity is thought to be a major contributor to the development of a secure attachment. This webinar will provide participants with an introduction to attachment theory and its relevance to clinical practice with at risk children and their families. Important contributors to attachment theory, as well as their research will be reviewed, including John Bowlby, Mary Ainsworth, and Harry Harlow. More recent research on attachment and neurobiology, particularly by Alan Schore will be discussed. Participants will learn about the importance of sensitivity in fostering a healthy parent-child relationship, thereby laying the foundation for future mental health. Participants will learn to evaluate parent-child interactions within the context of sensitivity, and will learn strategies to improve parental sensitivity. Cultural issues and their impact on parenting and sensitivity, as well as implications for the therapist-client relationship will also be discussed. [Required for Child & Adolescent Mental Health Certificate Program]
At the conclusion of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Define a framework, discuss different frameworks, and explain why we utilize practice & conceptual frameworks
- Define attachment and describe attachment theory and different attachment styles
- Describe modern attachment and differentiate between classical and modern attachment behaviors
- Examine and discuss risk factors that promote insecure attachments
- Explain and explore the need for culturally sensitive and diverse ways to support early relational health between parents/caregivers and children and utilize an interpersonal approach to promote healthy attachments
10:00 am Welcome/Introductions/Ground Rules
10:15 am Overview – What is a framework, and why do we utilize conceptual, theoretical, and practice frameworks; relational and interpersonal approach
10:30 am Discussion on the need for early relational healthy and what you know about attachment theory
10:40 am Review and define key components of attachment theory
11:00 am Identification and discussion of risk factors that promote insecure attachment (
11:20 am Expanding perspective on the view of parenting and making connections to trauma, need for early relational health, and factoring in cultural sensitivity
11:50 am Discussion on modern attachment theory and key concepts
12:20 pm Examine and demonstrate utilizing attachment theory and interpersonal approach in promoting healthy attachment between parents/caregivers and children through a case study and participant experiences
12:45 pm Conclusion/Q&A