Seminars for Professionals and Parents

The Essence of Attachment Seminars

I co-create with specific groups an integrated attachment approach for community prevention/early intervention, professional education and programming.

"Strengthening Attachment: Strengthening Families"
Children from birth to three years

A seminar for all disciplines working with families prenatally and with children up to age three.

This seminar will present a detailed overview of the attachment process prenatally and during the first two years of life, including the current neurobiology.  We will discuss the impact of this period on life long relationship development, physical and emotional health and learning. We will develop program ideas for supporting parents' connection with their child in the womb and the first two years in that will support optimal brain development and attachment. We will also develop strategies for supporting families to intain or develop secure attachment during this time. You will learn how to recognize disruptions to secure attachment. We will develop practical early intervention strategies.

"Strengthening Attachment: Strengthening Families"
Children from three to five years

A workshop for all disciplines working with families with children from three through age five

This seminar will present a brief overview of the attachment process prenatally and during the first two years of life (including the current neurobiological understanding) and how this is then seen in the preschooler. We will develop program ideas for supporting parents' connection with their child from age 3-5 in that will support optimal brain development and attachment. We will also develop strategies for supporting families to maintain or develop secure attachment during this time. You will learn how to recognize disruptions to secure attachment. We will develop practical early intervention strategies.

"Strengthening Attachment: Strengthening Families"
Children ages Six through twelve years

A workshop for all disciplines working with families with children from six through age twelve

This seminar will present the relevant attachment process and how this is seen in the school age child. We will develop program ideas for supporting parents' connection with their school age child that will support optimal brain development and attachment necessary for emotional and physical health. We will also develop strategies for supporting families to maintain or develop secure attachment during this time. You will learn how to recognize disruptions to secure attachment. We will develop practical early intervention strategies.

Please contact Myrna to set up a seminar for your organization. Myrna designs and delivers seminars on attachment in adults, adopted children and other specialty groups, including doulas, midwives and maternity units.

Seminars for Professionals

Body, Mind Spirit Connection for Life:  Attachment with 6-12 year olds.

Attachment forms the basis for healthy relationships with self and others, learning capacity and physical health. In this course, you will learn the neurobiology of attachment and trauma as it applies to this age range. Practical family-focused intervention strategies for healing attachment disruptions will be outlined through video of sessions and interactive discussion. Family sand tray, interactive family games and connection ideas are demonstrated.

Being with Difficult Behaviors in a Connecting Way

This seminar focuses on children with special needs in group settings.  How can we be with children who say "I hate myself"  "Nothing is fair.  This isn't fair.  You aren't fair"  How can we be with children who are so easily angry or frustrated, lashing out?  What is the underlying meaning of such behavior?

We will delineate the attachment roots of these behaviors, and discuss how to respond in a way that builds health and connection.  Discovering effective verbal strategies and play strategies through discussion, role playing and videotapes and fun games are the order of the day.

Evidence Based Attachment Supports for the Newborn and her Family

This seminar focuses on evidence based practices that support the development of secure attachment while the newborn and family are in the first few days and weeks of life.  We will delineate approaches for bringing what we know about the neurobiology of attachment during the labour, delivery, and neonatal period into sound routine practices in the birthing location.  Labour and delivery routines, self attachment sequences, skin to skin and developmental care will be discussed.

This seminar is useful for all birth attendents, including family doctors, obstetricians, maternity nurses, midwives, doulas - the birthing team.

Working with Babies and Young Children and their Families: Attachment 101 for Body Workers, Craniosacral Therapists and other Alternative Practitioners

This seminar will outline the neurobilology of attachment in the early years and apply this knowledge in practical ways to being with babies and young children and their families in your practice.  The nine principles of connection will be discussed in depth, and demonstrated with video clips. Through interactive role playing, games and exercises we will ‘live' these principles.

Adult Attachment: Still the Primary Source of Social Emotional Health and Learning.

The workshop will delineate the core facets of attachment and how it works in the brain and nervous system of humans, be they baby, child or adult.  We will discuss the essential tools that we need to be in relationship in ways that honour the attachment systems we all carry.  These tools apply to being with family members, co workers, or the children or adults that you work with. The ways that the attachment system manifests in adults will be the focus.  Exploring how our attachment system effects adult relationships, as well as child/adult relationships is a fascinating journey.

Parent Seminars

 

Birth and Attachment: How to Support your baby from here on

Learning about the attachment needs of newborns and babies in the first year of life is key to effective parenting of your baby.  We will talk about how the brain and nervous system of your baby is developing in this time, and what your baby needs from you to experience optimal development.  Understanding ‘baby language' and baby cues will support you to stay attuned to your baby and develop a secure attachment.   Baby ‘issues' of nursing, sleeping, communicating and playing are key points for our interactive discussions.

Body, Mind Spirit Connection for Life: Staying attached with your 6-12 year olds.

Attachment forms the basis for healthy relationships with self and others, learning capacity and physical health.  Parents will learn the neurobiology of attachment as it applies to this age range. Practical family-focused strategies for staying deeply connected with your children will be outlined through videos, and interactive discussion. Interactive family games and connection ideas are demonstrated, and ways of managing difficult behaviors while staying in strong relationship will be discussed.

Being with Difficult Behaviors and Keeping the Connection

This seminar focuses on understanding the attachment roots of difficult and challenging behaviors and how parents can be with their children in healthy deepening ways.  As parents how do we intervene when our children say "I hate myself"  or "It's not fair" or who are lashing out with anger and frustration far ‘too often'.  What do these statements mean?  Myrna will outline priniciples of connection, while setting limits and saying ‘no'.  Different parenting approaches based in attachment styles will be discussed. This seminar is highly interactive, with role playing, fun exercises and laughter.

Attachment 101 for Adopting Parents

This seminar focuses on what adopting parents need to know about the neurobiology of attachment and how that effects their relationship with their adopted child. We will discuss and interact through role plays, games and other fun activities how to support adopted children to develop secure attachment with their ‘forever' parents. Understanding what children are trying to express when they show challenging behaviors and how to be with your child in these times is an important part of this seminar.

Contact Myrna [at] myrnamartin.net if you would like us to keep you informedas to the progess and potential starting dates.

"Myrna has gifts far beyond her vast wealth of training and experience. She truly has the caring and nurturing heart needed to make this work so effective."