Continuing Professional Development
We provide a variety of professional development opportunities. Some of these are available only to our members whilst others are available to other qualified psychotherapists and counsellors and we are committed to developing training provision aimed at giving an attachment orientation to other professionals.
Open Days
Psychotherapy Training Open Days
The Open Day provides an opportunity to meet staff from the Bowlby Centre to find out more about our approach and the details of our training programme. The event is a facilitated workshop, with an overview of the curriculum, a clinical vignette and a discussion about our approach and the theoretical influences that have informed our work. It is also an opportunity to meet some of those who may be training alongside you, should you decide to join us.
The Open Days will be held in person at the Bowlby Centre, 1 Highbury Crescent, London N5 1RN.
Upcoming Dates:
Saturday 11th May 2024
Saturday 1st June 2024
Clinical Forums
Online Clinical Forum
Saturday 13th April 2024
11am to 1pm
Attachment implications for racial trauma: theory and practice
Speakers: Anne Aiyegbusi
Synopsis:
The implications of racial trauma for attachment patterns and relational experiences will be considered in this seminar. We will explore the implications for working models for relationships, of internalised racial hierarchy, and transgenerational transmissions of racial trauma rooted in atrocity. How might psychotherapists negotiate this in clinical practice in terms of recognising and working with dynamics emerging from racial trauma? Material from theory and practice will inform the seminar.
About the speakers:
Dr Anne Aiyegbusi
Dr Anne Aiyegbusi is a Group Analyst, Forensic Psychotherapist, Supervisor and Teacher. After taking early retirement from an NHS role as Executive Director of Nursing, Anne now works part time as a Principal Psychotherapist and Group Analyst within the NHS. She is also Director, Consultant Nurse and Psychotherapist at Psychological Approaches CIC where the focus of her work is providing training and consultancy to forensic and offender care services. Anne is a member of the Board of Trustees at the Institute of Group Analysis where she is the member for anti-discrimination and intersectionality. Anne has spoken at national and international psychotherapy conferences for many years. She has also published a number of peer reviewed papers, book chapters and co-edited and co-authored books. She is currently writing a book about forensic psychotherapy and racial trauma. Anne maintains an attachment perspective throughout her work and she teaches a module on the Attachment Based Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy training about the implications of racial trauma on the attachment system.
Date: Saturday 13th April 2024
Time: 11.00am – 1.00pm
Cost: £30 (Bowlby Centre members and students – free)
£10 for students from other organisations
Location: Online via Zoom
CPD: 2 hours – (CPD certificate provided)
SAVE THE DATE:
April 13 – Anne Aiyegbusi
May 11 – Kate White
June 8 – Tori Settle
July 13 – Barry Christie
* Speakers are subject to change
Conference
Attachment, Climate Crisis and the Natural World
A one-day online conference
Saturday 20th April 2024 | 10.00 – 5.00
What is it about?
A ground-breaking climate conference that delves into the heart of the climate crisis through the unique perspective of Attachment Theory. Therapeutic practitioners worldwide are witnessing the profound impact of climate change on the mental health of individuals, as anxiety, helplessness, and depression become prevalent concerns. At the same time, the natural world serves as a vital source of comfort and healing for many.
EXPLORING THE HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT BOND: ATTACHMENT’S ROLE IN CLIMATE CRISIS
This conference aims to spotlight the intricate relationship between our environment and our sense of safety and wellbeing. The climate crisis, coupled with relentless consumerist demands, is not only resulting in the loss of habitats and species but is also fostering a profound sense of insecurity that reverberates through individuals, groups, and nations globally.
ATTACHMENT THEORY: ILLUMINATING THE IMPACT OF INSECURITY
Attachment Theory is well-placed to comment on the impact of insecurity. The conference will share insights into the emotional toll of the climate crisis, emphasizing its implications for life and wellbeing. This conference is a unique opportunity to deepen our understanding of the human psyche in the face of environmental challenges.
ACTION FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
By attending this conference, you’ll not only gain a comprehensive understanding of the psychological impact of climate change but also be inspired to contribute to solutions. The aim of this conference is not only to raise awareness about the threats to life and wellbeing but uniting participants in their commitment to finding sustainable solutions.
Is it for me? This conference is open to anybody who is concerned about the impact of people on the planet, and the impact of climate change on people.
How is it delivered? Via Zoom, 10.00 – 5.00: each presentation is 40 minutes plus Q&A, Plenary and breaks.
Key Note Speaker:
Professor Jeremy Holmes
Speakers:
Roger Duncan
Dr Isabel Jimenez Acquarone
Maggie Turp
Karen Carberry
Chair: Linda Cundy
Date: Saturday 20th April 2024
Time: 10.00 – 5.00
Cost: £150 non-Bowlby Centre members
£125 early bird discount for bookings made before Friday 15th March
£100 Bowlby Centre members
Free for Bowlby Centre Students
Location: Online via Zoom
Courses
Safeguarding Awareness Training for Counsellors and Therapists
A two-hour online workshop designed and facilitated by Lynn Findlay
Monday 22nd April 2024 OR Monday 13th May 2024
Time: 6.15pm- 8.30pm
With Lynn Findlay
Venue: Zoom Online
What is it about? The workshop will increase your knowledge and confidence about making safeguarding decisions about children and adults in the therapeutic context. We focus on joined up thinking across families and networks.
Is it for me? It is for therapists working with both adults and young people. Many adult clients have contact with children in some capacity, and all children are cared for by adults. You can be in private practice or employed by an organisation.
What will I learn? The session covers:
- The legislative and statutory framework which promotes and safeguards a child’s welfare, including understanding terminology and comparisons with safeguarding adults (joined up thinking).
- An overview of the types of harm and abuse in child and adult safeguarding
- The role of the therapist within this framework, exploring issues of confidentiality and contracting in the counselling context.
- Making sense of your concerns and threshold dilemmas
- Guidance on recording and reporting concerns
- Signposting – what next.
How is it delivered? This is delivered via Zoom, with information sharing, whole group discussion, and opportunities for questions and personal reflection.
About Lynn:
Lynn is a qualified counsellor and psychotherapist, working with both adults and young people. She is a registered social worker with over 25yrs experience working in safeguarding, with many years’ experience designing and delivering training sessions in social care and therapy.
Booking Information:
Date: Monday 22nd April 2024 OR Monday 13th May 2024
Time:6.15pm- 8.30pm
Cost:£40 (£30 for Bowlby Centre members and students)
CPD: 2 hours and 15 Minutes – (CPD certificate provided)
Specialised Safeguarding Training for Counsellors and Therapists
A two-hour online workshop designed and facilitated by Lynn Findlay
Monday 29th April 2024
Time: 6.15pm- 8.30pm
With Lynn Findlay
Venue: Zoom Online
Specialised safeguarding training for therapists
Working with non-recent abuse and the LADO process AND Domestic abuse, including the DASH risk assessment and the MARAC process
This workshop is designed for counsellors and therapists, who have either completed the Safeguarding Awareness session, or who have a sound knowledge of child and adult safeguarding and are looking to expand their knowledge on working with disclosures of non-recent abuse and working with domestic abuse in therapy. The workshop offers knowledge of tools and procedures which can be used in therapy and opportunities for further discussion around thresholds and safeguarding dilemmas.
This is a two hour session and we spend around one hour on each topic.
Working with non-recent abuse covers:
- What is non-recent abuse?
- Managing a disclosure in therapy – duty of care, confidentiality, and self-care
- Making a referral to the police and/or social care
- Allegations against persons working with children/vulnerable adults: Role of the LADO
- Continuing with therapy alongside an investigation –role of CPS and pre-trial therapy
Working with domestic abuse covers:
- What is domestic abuse?
- How domestic abuse is located within child and adult safeguarding
- Contracting with a client experiencing domestic abuse
- Working with a disclosure of domestic abuse
- The DASH risk assessment tool and how this can be used in therapy
- Understanding the MARAC process
There will be a blend of information sharing and small group work to discuss thresholds and dilemmas.
About Lynn:
Lynn is a qualified counsellor and psychotherapist, working with both adults and young people. She is a registered social worker with over 25yrs experience working in safeguarding, with many years’ experience designing and delivering training sessions in social care and therapy.
Booking Information:
Date: Monday 29th April 2024 OR Monday 20th May 2024
Time:6.15pm- 8.30pm
Cost:£40 (£30 for Bowlby Centre members and students)
CPD: 2 hours and 15 Minutes – (CPD certificate provided)
Attachment and Complex Trauma March 2024
Course Full
Saturday, 23rd March and Sunday 24th March 2024
Time:10 am to 4pm
Cost:£350
Venue:The Bowlby Centre, 1 Highbury Crescent, London, N5 1RN
About the course
The course will be covering key principles of attachment theory as it originated by John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth along with its application in clinical practice. In addition, the course will focus on the Disorganised attachment status and its characteristics as is often shown in clients who suffer complex trauma and the intergenerational transmission of trauma. The emphasis on teaching disorganised attachment and complex trauma has arisen based on the demand from practitioners who often find themselves grappling with challenging situations when working with the more traumatised client groups. The course is aimed at therapists, psychologists, counsellors, social workers, GPs and other practitioners in the caring profession who want to expand their understanding of attachment theory with the emphasises on complex trauma, intergenerational transmission and adverse childhood experiences.
Participants will be meeting in person and the number of places are limited
Seminar Leader
Orit Badouk Epstein is a UKCP registered Attachment-based Psychoanalytic psychotherapist, a training supervisor and a training therapist. She trained at the Bowlby Centre, London where she was the Editor of the journal “Attachment-New Directions in Psychotherapy and Relational Psychoanalysis”. She specialises in attachment theory and trauma and regularly lectures, teaches, writes and presents papers and book chapters on these topics and consults worldwide on attachment theory. She runs a private practice and works relationally with individuals, couples and parents. Orit has a particular interest in working with individuals who have experienced extreme abuse and trauma and have displayed symptoms of dissociation. She is the co-author of the books “Ritual Abuse and Mind Control: The Manipulation of Attachment Needs” (Badouk Epstein, Wingfield & Schwartz, 2011 Karnac), “Terror within& without” (Yellin, Badouk Epstein, 2013, Karnac), Shame Matters (2021), Routledge and was the co-editor of the ESTD (European Society for Trauma and Dissociation) newsletter for 10 years as well as being a regular contributor of articles and film reviews. In her spare time Orit enjoys the cinema, reading philosophy and writing poetry.
Attachment within a couple relationship -April 2024
A online workshop designed and facilitated by Annie Power
10 hours over 3 Fridays
Dates:
- Friday 12th April 2024 – 9:00 to 12.20
- Friday 19th April 2024 – 9:00 to 12.20
- Friday 26th April 2024 – 9:00 to 13.20
Fee: £300
CPD: 10 hours
Outline
This course is offered both for couple therapists and for practitioners who work with individual clients but would like a fuller understanding of how attachment strategies play out in a relationship. The modules will map attachment dynamics in different areas of a couple’s life. We will explore working with the ‘couple in mind’, with a shift in the final session to look at working directly with a couple. This might be particularly useful for individual therapists who are considering a move into couple work.
The approach I take is based on my own training at The Bowlby Centre, my systemic training with Relate and in recent years, my training and experience as an EFT (emotionally focused couple therapy) therapist. I will suggest points for reflection between meetings as well as a chapter of preparation for each module. A copy of Contented Couples: Magic, logic or luck? will be needed for this.
Session 1
How attachment impacts our selection of a mate
Secure attachment is a blessing across the life cycle and its impact on our choice of a partner is particularly telling. People with this attachment history are equipped to choose well. They have a view of self as loveable and of the other as capable of loving. Their comfort with themselves allows them to think about their own feelings and to be curious about their own experience and that of a potential partner. With less need to project parts of their self they are better placed to read and accurately assess another person. We will consider how insecure attachment could sabotage mate selection in any of the courtship pathways – romance, arranged marriage or self-arranged relationships.
How attachment impacts building and sustaining a relationship
Secure attachment enables both care-seeking and caregiving to be more effective. We will consider the importance of understanding our needs and being able to voice these in ways which our partner can digest. We will map how different forms of insecure attachment interfere with the reciprocal, mutual support which most people long for in a partnership. People often say that the difficulty in their relationship is all down to ‘communication’ and we’ll explore what may underly this idea and how clients might be helped to unpack and go deeper in understanding their experience.
Session 2
How attachment impacts fights: Triggering, escalating and repairing them
Rows are a part in most relationships, the problem is not so much the fight itself as the lack of repair. A couple who avoids all friction could be at risk of keeping their relationship in the shallow end. Many couples become drawn into an ongoing tug of war between their complementary attachment strategies: the more one tries to calm the situation by saying little and keeping at a distance, the more the other insists on talking and feels things would be OK if only they could get their partner to understand. When this pattern becomes embedded, the tension will be constantly humming and a relatively small jolt can catapult the couple into open conflict.
How attachment impacts sex in a long term bond
How can long term partnerships continue to enjoy sexual pleasure over the decades? Why does it often happen that all seems fine in a couple except for sex? Is sex a lightning rod to what is really going on, or an adjunct which is less important for some couples? We will consider how competing attachment strategies can interfere with their sex life, as with any aspect of a couple’s daily life. When clients become more regulated and less reactive in their attachment behaviour then sex may be easier to negotiate – as would other areas such as money.
Session 3
How we work with attachment in a couple
In this module we will switch to a more focused approach to working, either with the ‘couple in mind’ as we sit with an individual in the room, or actually working with a couple. The approach I offer is broadly based on EFT and I build this onto an attachment-based psychoanalytic base. We will consider how to help a couple who arrive with the common presentation of rowing about all kinds of unimportant things, despondent because they seem to have become enemies and longing to recapture a sense of being a team. We will also review the understanding from earlier meetings.
ABOUT ANNE
Anne Power has qualifications from The Bowlby Centre, Westminster Pastoral Foundation, Tavistock Relationships and Relate. Her clinical work has been in voluntary settings, in the NHS and in private practice in London where she now works online with couples and supervisees. She has taught on a number of therapy trainings in London. Contented Couples: Magic, logic or luck? was published in 2022 and reflects on interviews with eighteen long-term couples.
Anne’s first book, Forced Endings in Psychotherapy, investigated the process of closing a practice for retirement or other reasons. Her published papers explore attachment meaning in the consulting room and in the supervision relationship.
Attachment Theory in Clinical Practice – June 2024
Saturday, 15th and Sunday, 16th June 2024, Saturday, 29th and Sunday, 30th June 2024
10.00am – 4.00pm
Cost – £650
Venue – The Bowlby Centre
1 Highbury Crescent
London N5 1RN
About the course
Seminars will include the following themes
• Introductions – our relationship to attachment theory.
• Attachment theory in context
• Separation, loss and mourning
• Patterns of attachment and their internal representation
• Secure • Avoidant • Preoccupied • Unresolved/disorganised • Not classifiable
• Evaluating adult attachment states of mind
• Internal working models
• Reflective functioning
• Intersubjectivity
Clinical work will consider the role of mourning, narrative, mutuality and recognition, affective attunement and cycles of rupture and repair in the therapeutic process.
The objectives of this course are to introduce Attachment theory and deepen your understanding of it. It’s designed to be of practical value with implications for therapy and human relatedness. The course is aimed for Counsellors, Psychotherapists, Psychologists, Psychiatrists
and Social Workers.
“I was surprised how this course touched on all areas of my life… for me it has been the missing piece of the jigsaw I have been looking for and brings together many things…”
Participants will be meeting in person and the numbers of places is limited.
Seminar Leader:
Orit Badouk Epstein is a UKCP-registered Attachment based Psychoanalytic psychotherapist, a training supervisor and a training therapist. She trained at the Bowlby Centre, London where she was the Editor of the journal “Attachment-New Directions in Psychotherapy and Relational Psychoanalysis”. She specialises in attachment theory and trauma and regularly lectures, teaches, writes and present papers and book chapters on these topics and consults worldwide on attachment theory.
She runs a private practice and works relationally with individuals, couples and parents. Orit has a particular interest in working with individuals who have experienced extreme abuse and trauma and have displayed symptoms of dissociation.
She is the co-author of the books “Ritual Abuse and Mind Control: The Manipulation of Attachment Needs” (Badouk Epstein, Wingfield & Schwartz, 2011 Karnac), “Terror within & without” (Yellin, Badouk Epstein, 2013, Karnac), Shame Matters (2021), Routledge and was the co-editor of the ESTD (European Society for Trauma and Dissociation) newsletter for 10 years as well as being a regular contributor of articles and film reviews. In her spare time Orit enjoys the cinema, reading philosophy and writing poetry.
Mental Health Familiarisation for all 2024
A one-day online workshop designed and facilitated by Gwen Adshead
Saturday 29th June 2024
Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
With Gwen Adshead
Venue: Zoom Online
The aims and intention of this workshop are:
- To provide knowledge and understanding which meets the UKCP criteria for the mental health familiarisation requirement;
- To provide an opportunity for the audience to hear from an expert in lived experience
- To provide an opportunity for a discussion, question and answer, session for all delegates
Is it for me? This course is designed for anyone with an interest in mental health, including qualified and trainee psychotherapists and counsellors and academics with an interest in mental
What will I learn? The day will be broken up into 4 sessions which covers:
Session One knowledge and understanding of mental health in England and Wales
- How mental illnesses are classified
- Models of assessment
Session Two knowledge and understanding of the mental health system in England and Wales
- Working within a social responsibility framework
- Working within a wider system of care
Session Three Panel discussion Gwen with those who have had experience within the mental health system
- The experiences of those who have used the mental health system
- Visons of how to develop the mental health system
- Common problems experienced by those who use the mental health system
- Ideas about what therapists need to know about the mental health system
Session Four -Question and answer
- Whole audience participation in questions, opinions and commentary
About Gwen:
Dr Gwen Adshead is a forensic psychiatrist and psychotherapist. She trained at St George’s Hospital and the Institute of psychiatry; and she qualified as a group analyst at the Institute of Group Analysis. She is also trained in mindfulness based CBT and in mentalisation based therapy. Gwen has a long standing interest in attachment theory; and its potential implications for the origins of child maltreatment and interpersonal violence and also for delivering therapeutic interventions. Gwen works as both a psychiatrist and psychotherapist in different kinds of clinical settings; from high secure services to the community. She has a long standing interest in the ethics of mental health services and models of health care delivery. In 2013, she was awarded the President’s medal for her work in mental health ethics. Gwen’s most recent publication is for a general audience, and was written with Eileen Horne. Entitled ‘The Devil You Know’, it is published by Faber.
Booking Information:
Date: Saturday 29th June 2024
Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
Cost:Bowlby Centre students: Free
Students from outside the Bowlby Centre: £50
Registered members of The Bowlby Centre: £50
Registered non Bowlby Attendees £100
CPD: 6 Hours – (CPD certificate provided)