In my work with individuals, couples and families, attachment processes, dilemmas and difficulties abound. In fact, I would say most of my work in relationships is facilitating corrective attachment experiences between child and parent or in couples. 

I would also say most of my work with adults concerned with their mental health or their relationships is helping them with their automatic reactions and triggers in relationships, the quality of the significant relationship they are a part of and their learnt survival strategies from challenges in earlier relationships.

Humans are hardwired to be in relationship. At the most primal level, for survival and procreation. Healthy development of the child’s brain and personality is entirely dependent on the quality of caregiving.

We are also hardwired to mould ourselves and adapt to the family and environment we are born into. These adaptations and survival strategies manifest in all types of behaviour, perceptions of others and ourselves and feelings, some of which lead to complex difficulties later in life.

Healthy attachment is fundamental to mental health, stable relationships, brain development and the integrated development of our sense of self.

Over the course of my career, I have:

• Developed and implemented a program called “Parenting the Hurt Child” for parents and carers of children who had experienced trauma and/ or attachment disruption, involving information on child/ parent attachment, trauma, brain development and parenting practices suited to support vulnerable children. This course was adapted and delivered to 100’s of foster carers, health professionals conference, community services events and an in-house presentation for Interrelate, Lismore.
• Extensive training in Attachment Based Family Therapy for Depressed and Suicidal Adolescents, an evidence-based family intervention. I am a Level 2 ABFT trained Therapist (click here for more info)  and have specialised in working with adolescents at risk and their families for many years.
• Trained with one of the pioneers of contemporary Attachment Theory, Patricia Crittenden (a student of Mary Ainsworth). Also Dr. Rudi Dallos in, Attachment Narrative Therapy. An approach to help individuals and families develop a coherent narrative of their life and experiences, which correlates with the resolution of trauma and the development of ‘earned security’.

For more information about Attachment Theory, attachment strategies
and memory networks – CLICK HERE