Clinical training happens in conjunction with our two-week Intensive Outpatient Program, during which we provide Corrective Attachment Therapy and/or Corrective Attachment Parenting therapy.

The primary goal is to help therapists in all stages of their career learn theory, assessment and therapeutic interventions through direct observation of an actual case involving a child and family, individual adult or couple. Program participants engage in therapy for approximately 30 hours over the two weeks.

Each day, trainees will observe three to six hours of treatment, followed by a review of clinical videos, discussion and processing. Therapeutic interventions focus on child, parent-child, adult (family-of-origin), marital and family-system issues. Corrective Attachment Therapy interventions include: first-year-of-life attachment cycle, therapeutic structure, contracting, cognitive rescripting, inner-child metaphor, psychodramatic reenactment, anger management, social skills training, attachment-communication training and the limbic-activation process.

Trainees have the option of joining us on a case or bringing one of their clients for treatment. The training fee is $2,000 for trainees who do not come to Evergreen Psychotherapy with a case.

There are many clinical advantages for bringing your own case, and we encourage this by providing training on these cases free of charge.

Trainees may come alone or with colleagues.

Contact us for more information.

Learning Objectives

• Learn concepts of trauma from biological, psychological, attachment and family- system perspectives.
• Use efficient and holistic assessment techniques for children, parents and families.
• Implement a healing and mindful parenting program.
• Teach clients effective communication through the 5-step Attachment Communication Training program.
• Implement cognitive, systemic and experiential therapeutic methods to improve core beliefs, behaviors and family relationships.
• Take home the skills necessary to facilitate positive change with challenging children, adults and traumatized families.

Learning Issues

Historical Perspective

Basic Theory and Research

Roots of Attachment

• Biology and Evolution
• Triune Brain
• Prenatal, Perinatal and Postnatal Environments
• Developmental Stages: Zero to Three Years

Secure and Disrupted Attachment

• Internal Working Model
• Empathy, Morality and Resilience
• Trauma, Maltreatment and Disorganized Attachments

Assessment

• Symptoms of Attachment Disorder
• Child, Parent, and Family Systems
• Differential Diagnosis

Corrective Attachment Therapy (CAT)

• Structure of the Healing Process
• Limbic Activation Process
• Therapeutic Style and Methods
• Goals, Contracting, and Managing Resistance

Family Systems Intervention

• Basic Systems Principles
• The Traumatized Family
• The Adoptive Family System
• Modifying Family Patterns
• Parents and Family-of-Origin Issues

Corrective Attachment Parenting (CAP)

• Basic Concepts and Methods of Therapeutic Parenting
• Parenting Skills Training

Child Welfare System

• Foster Care, Adoptions, and Daycare
• Early Intervention Programs

Learning Formats

• Observation of therapy with child and family
• Review of clinical tapes
• Group discussion and processing
• Written material provided (handouts, journal articles, etc.)

Praise for training at Evergreen Psychotherapy Center and Training Institute:

“I had the opportunity to travel to Evergreen, Colorado, and participate in the treatment of a family I referred to Evergreen Center. This family came to me after eight years of therapy from which they had seen no improvement. This family was in need of intensive intervention, or they were not going to make it as a family.

I spent quite a bit of time researching the intensive programs around the country. There were three main reasons I chose to refer my clients to this program over the others.

The first, and most important, was their belief of connection between parents and child rather than parental control of the child. This evolution in attachment treatment is validated by the brain research and enhances family relationships and child development.

The second reason for choosing this referral source was the responsiveness of the treatment team. They were willing to spend time talking with the parents about the treatment as well as responding to my questions and concerns, which helped preserve the family long enough to get them through the time between referral and treatment.

The third reason is the healing power of nature. Evergreen, Colorado, is a beautiful location allowing for deep relaxation and connection to a more natural rhythm than most of us experience in our overly planned lives.

This choice was validated by my two weeks spent with this treatment team. I have repeated over and over again when asked about my experience that I believe I witnessed a miracle. This family, which came to Colorado disjointed and broken, learned to love and trust each other. This child, who came to this treatment with immense self-loathing and torrential anger, began to see his own strengths and heal his own wounds. The parents healed, and the child healed. This thirteen-year-old child went from being unable to be more than 10 yards away from his parents without hurting himself or causing havoc to being able to fly-fish 100 yards away from his parents with confidence and ease.

Dr. Levy and Mike Orlans have such a commitment to quality attachment training and therapy that I was afforded the opportunity to participate in hours and hours of training with them beyond the time shared with the clients I referred. They spent time answering my questions, pointing me towards valuable resources, and processing each step of the therapy with me. They even helped me figure out which of their interventions I would be able to effectively integrate into my own practice. What a gift this knowledge was to me and my clients. My other clients have made significantly more and faster progress due to my interventions, knowledge and skills.

Although I have called this therapy a miracle, it is a miracle which both the family and I, as their hometown therapist, have the skills to continue, enhance and deepen. This skill is a miracle which the parents and child must continue their commitment to every day. There is still work to do with this family, but we are able to make progress and strides every session. They are all practicing their skills and leaning on each other with trust and love and that is the miracle.”

— Bonnie Mierav, LCSW, Director of Social Services, Adoption Links Worldwide, Omaha, Neb.