A Home Study Continuing Education Course for
Psychologists, Marriage and Family Therapists, Social Workers, and Mental Health Counselors

Attachment in Group Psychotherapy

M. Cloitre, Ph.D., L.R. Cohen Ph.D., and K.C. Koenen, Ph.D., 2006. 316 Pages

8 Hours CE Credits

60 Questions: True/False and Multiple Choice

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This course explains how attachment styles, delineated by the dimension model of attachment, influence the group therapy process.  The course reviews the theory and empirical research on attachment and group psychotherapy and relates attachment theory to different group therapy approaches.  Various measures of attachment and their relevance to the screening and placement process are reviewed.  Direction for screening, placing, and preparing group members is included.  An important aspect of this course is how patient attachment styles influence the group process and treatment outcomes.  In addition, the material reviews how the interaction between therapist and patient attachment patterns influence the therapy process and outcomes.  Clinical guidance and case examples for working with different attachment styles are included. 

Learning Objectives:

• List at least three characteristics attributed to each of the  four attachment model quadrants.

• Describe how group treatment can shift attachment styles toward the secure quadrant.

• Summarize how different attachment styles can affect group cohesion.

• Name at least three processes that foster secure attachment in group psychotherapy.

• Explain how group leaders can help members with insecure attachment styles reach therapy goals..

• Discuss how attachment theory can be applied in treating groups composed of special and diverse populations. .

• Describe issues related to attachment and termination in group psychotherapy.

Course Outline:

           Introduction

1. Theory and empirical research on attachment and group psychotherapy

   1. An overview of attachment theory and its application to group psychotherapy

   2. Measuring group and dyadic adult attachment styles

   3. Attachment in individual and group psychotherapy:  Empirical findings

2. Applications of attachment to group practice

   1. Assembling the group:  Screening, placing, and preparing group members

   2. Processes that foster secure attachment in group psychotherapy

   3. Treating the preoccupied group member

   4. Treating the dismissing-avoidant group member

   5. Treating the fearful-avoidant group member

   6. Attachment and special group populations:  Eating disorders, substance abuse, and trauma

   7. Diversity in group psychotherapy:  attachment, ethnicity, and race

   8. Attachment, loss, and termination in group psychotherapy

   9. In-depth clinical case studies:  Attachment theory and group psychotherapy

3. Afterword:  Closing reflections on attachment and group psychotherapy

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