Attachment, Personality, and Psychotherapy

2023 Course Overview

Information for the 2024 course is not yet available.

Attachment theory, which highlights early infant-caretaker interactions, has had a profound impact on the understanding of mental health and illness. There is abundant evidence that individuals who lack secure attachment are at higher risk of developing a mental disorder and many hypothesize that this lack of secure attachment may be the primary cause of a variety of disorders, especially personality disorders. Psychotherapy can employ attachment theories in the process of healing. The field of attachment theory has evolved from principles of psychoanalysis, cognitive behavioral therapy, evolutionary biology, physiology and neuroscience. Unfortunately, many clinicians fail to recognize attachment issues in practice and just assume the patient is “difficult” or “resistant.” Recent advances in both the neuroscientific and psychological understanding of attachment are transforming the ways to utilize attachment theory to more effectively help people. This conference, with renowned faculty from McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and from around the world, will bring you the latest information in the field and help you develop strategies that will lead to better ways to diagnose and treat your patients. Two optional workshops focus on evidence-based treatments: Mentalization-based Treatment for Pathological Narcissism and General Psychiatric Management of Borderline Personality Disorder for Adolescents. These intensive and interactive workshops will be limited in size in order to allow for active participation between faculty and participants and will allow clinicians to add new skill sets to their practice. 

Who Should Attend

• Physicians
• Nurses
• Psychologists
• Social Workers
• Counselors  

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Evaluate attachment theory and apply appropriate treatment therapies 
•  Recognize healthy and unhealthy types of attachment. 
• Analyze biological and neuroscience developments in the attachment field and their relevance to your practice.