A Deeper Look into Attachment: Unresolved Mourning and Disorganization

November 9, 2024

Abstract
This workshop is designed to examine clinical applications of attachment theory when treating dissociation and complex trauma. The purpose is to expand the understanding of attachment theory from the lens of developmental and social psychology. The workshop will outline the three major organized attachment categories as well as multiple sub-categories within these major classifications. An in-depth focus will be directed towards discreet and global disorganization states and how they are recognized and approached clinically. Clinical pitfalls will be discussed related to the therapist’s and patient’s attachment internal working models and how they might collide during times of stress.

Attachment theory, understood through the developmental lens of the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI), Strange Situation, and Hostile-Helpless states of mind are powerful tools for clinicians and researchers. Attachment categories developed by social psychologists shed further light on the complexity of attachment theory. Developing a working knowledge of these major approaches can enrich clinical understanding of patients with complex PTSD and dissociation. 

Although the workshop is not a formal training in the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI), the questions in the interview and some of the coding processes will be shared, along with opportunities to explore how the unconscious of the speaker emerges when answering the AAI questions. These subtle clues offer insight into the patient’s state of mind and provide unexpected clinical richness. The interview itself provides a framework for gathering information about attachment experiences as well as past and present personal background in general. Understanding some aspects of the AAI supports a way of ‘hearing’ implicitly encoded states of mind about attachment, including past and present loss, traumatic events, and ongoing activation of hostile and/or helpless states of mind. When discerning the attachment strategies of the patient/client and giving attention to the sub-categories and how they can co-occur, it is hoped that clinicians will find effective ways to navigate many complicated interactions that emerge when working with developmental trauma and dissociative disordered patients. Clinically, it is equally important to appreciate the dynamic nature of attachment behaviors and how they can shift during clinical treatment. 

The organization of the workshop will begin with background information about attachment theory and the different ways of measuring it. Examples will be provided to illustrate the theoretical content, including many examples that focus on disorganized strategies as well as a brief discussion on extreme cases of patients who are “Unattached”. This section will be followed by open questions and discussions from the participants.

Potential to Distress: No

Target Audience

Beginning/Introductory

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to:

  • Describe the major organized attachment classifications and their sub-classification    
  • Identify linguistic or behavioral markers of disorganization/dissociation    
  • Describe attachment theory from developmental psychology and social psychology    
  • Describe attachment internal working models and how they influence clinical treatment.    
  • Identify clinical markers when attachment strategies begin to change
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.50 APA
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
  • 1.50 ASWB ACE
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD), #1744, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 08/20/2024 – 08/20/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 1.50 continuing education credits.
  • 1.50 ISSTD Certificate Program
    This program is eligible for 1.50 credits in the ISSTD Certificate Program. No certificate of completion is generated for this type of credit.
Course opens: 
07/01/2024
Course expires: 
12/31/2050
Event starts: 
11/09/2024 - 2:30pm EST
Event ends: 
11/09/2024 - 4:00pm EST
Part of: 
Attachment and the Therapeutic Relationship - Day One
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Paula Thomson, PsyD
Paula Thomson, PsyD, is Professor in the Department of Kinesiology, California State University, Northridge (CSUN). She is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and works in private practice in California with a specialization in treating complex trauma.  She is Co-Director of the Performance Psychophysiology Laboratory at CSUN where they investigate the psychophysiological effects of stress on performing artists, athletes, and healthy control participants. Several current and ongoing research studies include investigating the risk and protective factors of stress and traumatic exposure, the effects of abuse perpetrated by coaches and teachers, heart rate variability and dysautonomia, ethnic diversity related to flow, creative processing, adversity and coping strategies, and climate change anxiety. She is Professor Emeritus and Senior Scholar at York University’s Departments of Theatre and Graduate Studies (Canada). She is a reliable Adult Attachment Interview coder and actively conducts research investigating attachment, early trauma, and creativity. She is the co-author of two books, Creativity and the Performing Artist: Behind the Mask and Creativity, Trauma, and Resilience and author of multiple chapters and peer-reviewed articles. She is a Fellow with the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation and a member of the Mental Health Working Group with the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science. She was a professional dancer and continues work as choreographer and movement coach in dance, theatre, and opera. Past professional choreographic company work includes Canadian Opera Company, Canadian Stage Company, Stratford Shakespearean Festival, Northern Lights Dance Theatre, Ballet Jorgen, UCLA On the Edge of Chaos., and LACPA Theater of the Mind. In 2013, she was named one of the top 20 female professors in California.

Available Credit

  • 1.50 APA
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
  • 1.50 ASWB ACE
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD), #1744, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 08/20/2024 – 08/20/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 1.50 continuing education credits.
  • 1.50 ISSTD Certificate Program
    This program is eligible for 1.50 credits in the ISSTD Certificate Program. No certificate of completion is generated for this type of credit.
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Early registration ends September 30, 2024 at 5:00 PM US Eastern Time. Prices will increase for emerging professional and professional/retired rates at that time by $50. 

"Your Price" above reflects your final price based on your membership status, career level and any add-ons you choose to add to your registration. Please add this item to your cart and answer the questions on the next page to see your final price. Registration is available for one or two days for this event. If you wish to register for one day, click the day you wish to attend at the top of this page to take you to registration for that day. 

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  • ISSTD defines a student as those enrolled in a program of study leading to a degree or certification in the mental health field and who have an interest in trauma and dissociation. 
  • ISSTD defines an emerging professional as mental health professionals who have completed an advanced degree and are in the first three years of their career (or first three years after graduation for researchers).
  • If you do not fall into one of the above categories please register as Professional/Retired. 

Available Discounts
These prices are for Tier I countries. For a list of countries by Tier click here. If you are located in a country that falls into Tier II-VI please contact ISSTD at [email protected] to receive the appropriate discount code. 
Group rates are available for groups of five or more from the same hospital, facility, or university. Please email ISSTD HQ for assistance with group rates. For groups of 5-9 the discount is 10% off registration fees, for groups of 10 or more the discount is 15% off registration fees. 

Cancellation Policy
Cancellations must be received in writing via email or fax. A processing fee of $45 will be charged for cancellations received on or before Friday, October 25, 2024 at 5:00 PM ET. No refunds will be issued for no-shows. Refund requests will not be accepted after October 25, 2024. Not all requests will be granted. Substitutions for attendees are accepted until November 1, 2024.

Grievance Policy
ISSTD is fully committed to conducting all activities in strict conformation with the APA and ASWB grievance procedures.

During this conference, conference organizers, presenters and staff will address any concerns that arise. Every effort will be made to address the concerns during the conference when possible. If these individuals are unable to address the participant’s concerns, the complaints and grievances shall be presented in writing to ISSTD Headquarters at [email protected]. These will be forwarded on for review by the Virtual and Regional Conference Committee.

Social Workers: Should social workers have a specific grievance, these grievances will be addressed by D. Michael Coy, LICSW. In situations where the social worker would have a conflict of interest, then, Christine Forner, MSW will review the grievance.

ISSTD strives to resolve grievances in a manner that is in the best interest of the participant. All complaints and grievances are reviewed within 5 working days. Formal grievances are required to be written and emailed as directed above and will be responded to within 15 business days.

Disability Policy (ADA)
We would be happy to accommodate your ADA needs. Please contact ISSTD Headquarters via email at [email protected] or via phone at 844.994.7783 for assistance.

Registration Contact Information
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 844.994.7783
Fax: 888.966.0310