Description
Clinical Application of the
Adult Attachment Interview
with
Joni Lavick, MFT
May 6, 2017
10:00 am – 5:00 pm
In this training I will synthesize one of the most important developments in psychotherapy over the past few decades. This includes breakthroughs incorporating the body into the work of psychotherapy, the influence of attachment theory, the ever-expanding use of the therapeutic relationship as a modality for healing, and new changes in the field of addiction.
Attachment is learned behavior and passed on from parent to child. Insecure attachment strategies manifest in maladaptive interpersonal relationships and failed attempts by individuals to resolve or repair wounds resulting from past traumatic experiences. Insecure attachment creates affect-regulation problems characterized by mood disturbances, poor impulse control, substance abuse and dependence, and the lack of ability for self-regulation.
My approach is practical, based on my 25 years of experience and study. It is always my goal to teach useful interventions you can bring to your practice immediately. You won’t be disappointed!
We will use The Adult Attachment Interview (c) by Mary Main, Ph.D. to explore working relationally with individuals and couples. It provides real time methods to bring the healing power of therapy into the room.
Please note: This workshop is an introduction to the clinical application of the AAI and is not a substitute for the required formal training to properly score it.
Part 1: We will explore the structure and function of this 20-question assessment tool. The inventory begins with early childhood attachment, separation, trauma assessment, and shifts in attachment from adolescence to adulthood. I will discuss the organized attachment strategies in infants and adults.
Break: Secure Snacks!
Part 2. This is a demonstration of the meat of the AAI followed by a dyadic experiential breakout where you will give and answer this part of the AAI. Following this interaction I’ll begin to introduce how the AAI is scored.
Lunch on your own: Separation and individuation!
Part 3. We will move on to trauma assessment and changes in the AAI from adolescence to adulthood. From the scoring perspective we will focus on trauma resolution and how this matrix impacts sustaining secure attachment. This section will also include a demonstration and experiential dyads.
Break: More Safe Snacks.
Part 4. We will learn how use the AAI to develop a treatment plan to guide clients toward earned secure. Analysis of how attachment strategies reveal themselves in the transference will be explored.
At this workshop you will learn to:
- Use the Adult Attachment Interview in a one session framework and over the course of several sessions
- Listen for the adult categories of organized attachment.
- Identify your own attachment strategy
- Administer a portion of the AAI
- Use the AAI to help identify the attachment patterns of your clients.
Joni Lavick, MFT maintains a private practice in Santa Monica. She is a clinical supervisor at Counseling West, and Antioch University, and works with families coping with addiction at The Canyon Recovery Center.
She is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles with a Master’s in Counseling Psychology and has a Bachelors degree in Social Work from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Joni’s philosophy and clinical practice is asset-based, integrates body and mind, and holds that it is the therapeutic relationship that heals. Her Universal Treatment Plan is the distillation of 25 years of training and experience to help clients grow through identifying strengths and enhancing resources.
Joni has been working with HIV positive individuals since 1988. In 2005 she received a National HIV Leadership Award from thebody.com. The Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Psychotherapists Association’s honored her expertise and advocacy in 2000, with their Annual Community Service Award. She is a former Director of Mental Health Services at the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center.
She has over 20 years of experience treating individuals with sexual compulsivity, methamphetamine addiction, alcoholism and other substances, depression and anxiety. Currently she serves on the board of The Women’s Association for Addiction Treatment.
In addition to her expertise with HIV, addiction, and LGBT issues, she has special training in the scoring and administration of Mary Main’s Adult Attachment Interview, studied Intersubjective Systems Theory with Robert Stolorow, and is certified as a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner by Peter Levine’s Foundation for Human Enrichment.
Her publications include “Trauma and HIV: Frozen Moments, Frozen Lives” BETA, Spring 2008 and “Conquering Anxiety; Living with HIV” BETA, Winter 2007. An experienced public speaker she has presented at many national conferences, university classrooms, and community based organizations.
Continuing Education
Continuing Education Units are available for this training. There is a $20 charge for each CE certificate. Certificates are issued after the evaluation is submitted.
Psychologists: The Insight Center is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Insight Center maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This course is provides 6 CE units.
MFTs / LCSWs: MFTs / LCSWs / Professional Counselors: The California Board of Behavioral Sciences now accepts APA CEs. This course provides 6 CE units.
Nurses: The Insight Center, Provider Number 14914, is an approved provider by the California Board of Registered Nursing. This course provides 6 CE units.
Purchase CE Certificate