• Are you interested in re-visiting Attachment Theory, with a particular focus on insecure attachment?

• Do you want to increase your understanding of how dependency issues can be seen as a manifestation of insecure attachment in the addicted client?

Attachment is defined as the lifelong need human beings have for affectionate ties with significant other human beings. It is a biological necessity for us to have a secure attachment relationship. Although much of the research on attachment has focused on infants and children, attachment theory is also applicable to adults in a psychodynamic framework, as 75% of attachment patterns remain stable through to adulthood.

The impact of childhood events often casts a deep shadow over us in adult life. Understanding Attachment Theory can serve as a solid foundation for understanding the development of ineffective coping strategies, and the underlying dynamics of a client’s emotional difficulties.This workshop will consider the aetiology of a person’s addiction as resulting initially from a place of disrupted attachment relationships.

During the day participants will briefly re-visit attachment theory and styles. We will consider the links between attachment insecurity and: substance misuse, disordered eating, gambling, and sex addiction. There will be presentation of theory and research alongside clinical vignettes. Group clinical discussion will explore participant clinical work.

There is an expectation that participants are familiar with the basics of attachment theory (Attachment in Psychotherapy, David J. Wallin, 2015).Workshop Leader Sarah Pennock MSc, Pg. Dip, Integrative Counsellor. FDAP. MBACP (Accred.) is an Addiction and Attachment Based Therapist. She has worked with residential addiction treatment centres, out-patient programmes and addiction support agencies. Following her specialist training in Addiction Psychology Sarah completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Attachment-Based Therapy to complement her addiction work, discovering how and why our individual attachment styles often shape the way we respond to challenges and anxieties, including all that is evoked within addiction recovery. Sarah runs a busy private practice in Marylebone London and continues to work with senior leadership in large corporate companies to demonstrate the impact of attachment styles on leadership style, productivity, and creativity. Sarah is a contributing author to a book on ‘Attachment and Food’ edited by Linda Cundy, which will be published in 2021. Sarah's working style integrates psychodynamic theories of personality development, cognitive approaches to decision making, mentalisation and self-observation.

Training and qualified counsellors and psychotherapists. Please note that by booking on this workshop you agree to keep all discussion confidential.

PLACE: We hope to deliver this in a group setting at Apsley House, however if we are unable to do this, we will deliver the training online.