Learn to heal attachment wounds and trauma in children

Early experiences within attachment systems form the threads that weave the fabric of every human being.  A safe and secure attachment system builds resilience for a lifetime while attachment traumas and toxic stress can erode mental and physical health and well-being. 

Treating Developmental Trauma and Attachment in Children (TDTAC) is an 80-hour, post-graduate level course for mental health professionals in the fields of child welfare, children’s mental health and adoption / permanency. The course consists of 44 hours of self-directed learning of resources that will be provided, 30 hours of on-line or in-person class, and 6 hours of knowledge implementation classes. TDTAC combines the recent research on Interpersonal Neurobiology with the physiological and relational practices. After completion, participants will be eligible to register as an ATTACh mental health clinician upon completion. 

The course will focus on the current thinking about childhood developmental trauma through the lenses of attachment and trauma. Current terminologies and schools of thought including Developmental Trauma and ACEs will be explored. Attachment theory, theories of trauma and interpersonal neurobiology will be explored in parallel with current psychotherapeutic modalities and techniques including on sensory, somatic and brain-based traumagenic differences. 

Children who have been separated from primary attachment figures require support for grief and loss. Mitigating grief and loss through therapy and systems work (maintain placement stability, reducing losses, maintaining connections through access and openness) is explored. There will be a number of special topics covered, some by guest speakers, including residential treatment, childhood violence in the home, sexual orientation and gender identity in children, racism and identity formation, historical and intergenerational trauma, and cultural safety. The course will wrap up with a focus on safe and effective use of self and self-care for mental health practitioners. 

To enroll in the TDTAC - Mental Health Certification Course, participants must have a Doctorate or Master’s degree in psychology, social work, or another license in a mental health-related field.

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Cost: $900 non-members/ $750 members 

(Cost for CE credits included)

Time: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (Central Time) VIRTUAL SERIES 

Live Interactive Online Dates:  Thursdays, April 13 - May 11, 2023

Download detailed agenda and learning objectives here.

About the Treating Developmental Trauma and Attachment in Children Training
for Mental Health Professionals (TDTAC - Mental Health) 

Part One: Self-Directed Learning: Registrant will receive the self-directed reading list, along with two resource books, upon registration. Learning objectives will be provided along with the reading list.

Part Two: Pre-Course Meeting:  Participants will be invited to attend a pre-course meeting for introductions and getting know each other. This meeting is generally held one week prior to the start of the live virtual sessions (2 hours, not included in total CE hours). 

Part Three: Interactive Instruction:  Consists of 30 hours of online interactive classes 

Part Four: Post course classes: Three 2-hour live, interactive online classes to discuss and facilitate implementation of learning in participants clinical practice, scheduled after course completion.

Online Instruction: The second phase includes online instruction in the areas of attachment, regulation, trauma, maltreatment, and grief, as well as brain development inherent in these factors. This phase also explores theory, research, model programs, techniques for intervention, transference, and counter-transference. 

Online Practicum: Emphasis on therapy skill development in which participants will incorporate attachment and trauma work into their practice models. Role-plays and case approaches will be discussed through practice with case studies provided and those offered by participants. 

Theory and practice will be interwoven to provide a balanced and enjoyable day online. Some case studies will be provided with the workbook and readings. Participants are also encouraged to prepare a case study.

Following the online course, there will be three 2-hour group discussions pertaining to the implementation of the work and participants’ case presentations. These will be monthly, and the dates will be determined by consensus at the end of Day 5. These 6 hours are part of the 80-hour course curriculum and are required.

Training Outcomes/Benefits

Course Overarching Learning Objectives:  

• Contextualize attachment and trauma focused clinical work within the current research and theoretical paradigms. 
• Effectively use attachment theory, attachment patterns, and attachment assessments of self and clients with the therapeutic goal of enhancing attachment security through relationship-based dyadic and family therapy.
• Utilize knowledge of the somatic and brain-based sequelae of developmental trauma to provide effective assessment and treatment of children and or make necessary referrals to other allied professionals.
• Utilize knowledge of attachment, trauma, resilience and healing to provide information, psycho-education, and support to parents, caregivers, and helping professionals so that their relationships and interactions with children complement and support therapeutic goals.
• Develop awareness of the unique needs of all members of society to provide therapy that is equitable and safe to all children, parents, and other professionals. Use resources provided to further develop therapeutic skills in areas such as sexual orientation, gender identity, white privilege, racism, and social determinants of health.
• Explore and develop therapeutic safe and effective use of self within the relationship-based context of attachment and trauma focused therapy with children, families, care-providers, and other professionals. Relationships matter. 
• Develop awareness of one's own vulnerability to secondary traumatic stress and manage self-care in order to bring one's best self to work in general and each individual client in particular.

Download detailed list of learning objectives and agenda here.

Training Benefits

• Training by a nationally recognized Attachment and Trauma Program
• A certificate of completion
• A one-year membership as an ATTACh Registered (Member Details: www.attach.org)
• Clinician referrals from ATTACh to your practice (for qualified Registered Clinicians)
• Listing on the ATTACh website (for qualified Registered Clinicians)
• 80-hours Continuing Education Credits
   

Should you have questions, contact ATTACh at [email protected].  For upcoming online trainings, recorded workshops, and other educational resources, visit us online at www.attach.org.
 

ATTACh...Teaching the World to Heal

Continuing Education Provided through R. Cassidy Seminars

Psychologists
NY: R. Cassidy Seminars is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0018. 80 contact hour. Live online.

Social Workers
IL-SWs: Illinois Dept of Professional Regulation, Approved Continuing Education Sponsor, #159.000785. 80 CE hour.
MN: R. Cassidy Seminars is recognized by the Minnesota Board of Social Work, CEP #2281 approval 12/27/22 – 12/27/23.  80 CE hour.

NY: R. Cassidy Seminars is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider (#0006) of continuing education for licensed social workers. This program is approved for 80 contact hour Live online.
 OH: Provider approved by the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board for 80 clock hour, #RCST110701

Counselors/Marriage and Family Therapists
IL-MFTs: Illinois Dept of Professional Regulation, Approved Continuing Education Sponsor, #168-000141. 80 hour.
NY-LMHCs: R. Cassidy Seminars is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board of Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0015. 80 contact hour. Live online.
NY-LMFTs: R. Cassidy Seminars is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board of Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists. #MFT-0011. 80 contact hour. Live online.
OH: Provider approved by the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board for 80 clock hour, #RCST110701
TX: Approved CE Sponsor through the Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage & Family Therapists. Provider #151 80 CE hour.
 
Creative Arts Therapists
NY: R. Cassidy Seminars is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board of Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed creative arts therapists, #CAT-0005. 80 contact hour. Live online.

Chemical Dependency Counselors
 CA: Provider approved by CCAPP, Provider #4N-00-434-0555 for 80 CEH. CCAPP is an ICRC member which has reciprocity with most ICRC member states
 TX: Provider approved by the TCBAP Standards Committee, Provider No. 1749-06, 80 hour general. Expires 1/31/24.  Complaints about provider or workshop content may be directed to the TCBAP Standards Committee, 1005 Congress Avenue, Ste. 460, Austin, Texas 78701, Fax Number (515) 476-7597.

Educators
 TX: R. Cassidy Seminars is an approved provider with the Texas Education Agency CPE# 501456. This course is 80 CE hour.

Nurses
CA: Provider approved by the CA Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #CeP15554, for 80 contact hour
 
Dentists
CA: R. Cassidy Seminars is a provider approved by the Dental Board of California as a registered provider of continuing education. RP# 4874 80 CE hour.