Attachment-Focused EMDR Training: An Introduction for Clinicians

Course Syllabus

Instructor Information:

Christina Castro is a licensed professional clinical counselor who has spent the last 10 years empowering trauma survivors. She began her career as a school counselor supporting incarcerated youth in juvenile detention facilities. Christina later worked with vulnerable foster youth and became a certified case manager assisting human trafficking survivors. 

These experiences fostered in Christina a passion for serving adults coping with the lasting impacts of childhood trauma. She now specializes in providing trauma-focused counseling and EMDR therapy to clients with histories of childhood abuse, neglect, physical violence, and sexual trauma.

Over the past 3 years, Christina has focused extensively on Attachment Focused EMDR, recognizing the profound influence early attachment relationships have on clients' emotional health and psychological well-being. She firmly believes that healing is possible and works collaboratively with each client to process traumatic memories, build resilience, and transform hardship into strength. Christina also provides training to school districts across Los Angeles County in trauma informed practices and topics related to supporting youth in foster care.

Educational Goals:

The educational goals for the Attachment-Focused EMDR Training presentation are to provide a comprehensive understanding of Attachment Theory and its integration with Attachment-Focused EMDR (AF-EMDR). Participants will learn about the origins of attachment wounds in childhood, recognize various attachment styles in adulthood, and identify ideal clients for AF-EMDR. The training will cover key healing resources in AF-EMDR, including creating the ideal parent figure and love resources, and emphasize the importance of the therapeutic relationship. Attendees will gain insights into the unique aspects of AF-EMDR, including contributions from Laurel Parnell and Robin Shapiro, and understand the differences from standard EMDR through target sequence planning and processing techniques. Finally, the course will apply these concepts to clinical scenarios and vignettes, encouraging open discussion and providing resources for further learning.

Measurable Outcomes:

• Participants will accurately explain the origins of Attachment Theory and how it integrates with Attachment-Focused EMDR (AF-EMDR).

• Attendees will be able to identify at least three types of attachment wounds experienced in childhood and articulate their potential long-term impacts on individuals.

• Participants will demonstrate the ability to recognize and describe at least three different attachment styles in adulthood and their corresponding influences on behavior and relationships.

• Attendees will successfully determine the ideal client profile for AF-EMDR, listing key characteristics that make individuals suitable for this therapeutic approach.

• Participants will learn and describe the four most important healing resources in AF-EMDR and demonstrate understanding of techniques like 'Creating the Ideal Parent' and 'Love Resources'.

• Attendees will apply AF-EMDR concepts to at least two different clinical scenarios or vignettes, showing an understanding of its application across various attachment styles and issues.

Course Outline: Attachment-Focused EMDR Training

1. Overview of Attachment Theory

• Origins of Attachment theory and AF-EMDR

• Attachment Wounds in Childhood

• Attachment Styles in Adulthood

• Ideal clients for AF- EMDR

2. Healing Resources

• Four Most Important Resources

• Creating the Ideal Parent

• Love Resources (Tapping in Loved Ones, Loving Kindness Meditation)

• The Therapeutic Relationship

3. Using Attachment-Focused EMDR

• Contributions of Laurel Parnell and Robin Shapiro

• Key Differences from Standard EMDR

• Target Sequence Planning

• Processing

4. Clinical Scenarios and Vignettes

• Application in Various Attachment Styles and Issues

8. Q&A and Open Discussion

• Resources for further learning