Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy Level 2 – Kingscliff

Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy Level 2

Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy/ Practice (DDP) is an intervention model developed by Dan Hughes, Clinical Psychologist (U.S.A.). DDP is family-based and is focused on facilitating the child’s readiness and ability to establish a secure attachment with his/her caregivers. It is called Dyadic Developmental Practice both to focus attention on the importance of reciprocity in parenting, caregiving and therapy, and also to draw attention to the fact that abuse, neglect and trauma can seriously impact on the child’s developmental age and stage. This intervention is theoretically based on the models of attachment theory and intersubjectivity, and is consistent with the needs of children and young people who have experienced developmental trauma. It is an approach that:

• Integrates recent research in the areas of neurobiology of trauma, early child development and attachment theory, to produce a therapeutic and parenting approach that assists professionals to understand and effectively support children with trauma- attachment problems, and their families
• Communicates playfulness, acceptance, curiosity and empathy (PACE) in order to help the child regulate their feelings (often fear, shame and anger) associated with past experiences and to create together new meanings to be integrated into the child’s life story (autobiographical narrative).
• Recognises the vital role which adoptive parents, foster carers and residential workers play in the recovery of traumatised, attachment-resistant children.
• Provides a set of principles that can support networks; inform and enrich parenting; and can support the child outside of the home eg in residential settings and at school

DDP Level Two Training

This DDP Level Two 4-day (28 hour) workshop is open to clinical psychologists, social workers, parent mentors, therapists and other practitioners, who have completed the 4-day Level One training. It follows on from the ideas and skills introduced in Level One and is suitable for those who are beginning to use the principles and interventions in their day-to-day work.

The aims of this training are:

• To gain a deeper understanding of the theory and practice of the interventions and parenting principles used in this approach.
• To follow up on any relevant themes that participants would like more teaching on.
• For each participant to have opportunities to focus on the successes and barriers experienced in applying the model in their practice via supervision or consultation about their work with families or their specific practice. This is the main aim.
• To provide participants with the opportunity to explore (in small groups of 3 people for one hour a day) how their attachment history and experiences may inform and have an impact on their work.

We also invite a small number of participants (2 max) to bring a taped clinical session to be shown. The trainer shall provide advice on their DDP practice similar to what occurs for DDP Practicum students. To express your interest in this, click here to send an email to Ben at Compass to discuss further.

A MAXIMUM of 18 participants is permitted.

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