Attachment, neurodevelopment and psychopathology (ANP)
Working with troubled families and individuals? Learn about a strength-based model (DMM) and its application from infancy to adulthood
This course focuses on the development, prevention and treatment of psychological disorder from infancy to adulthood. It weaves together theory, human development, assessment, case examples and treatment applications to reframe maladaptive behaviour in terms of strategies for self-protection. The course emphasises the process of adaptation and developmental pathways that carry risk for psychopathology.
The aspects of neural development to be covered are chosen to enhance treatment of psychological maladaptation of adults and children (including families with child maltreatment, psychiatric disorder, and criminality). The course emphasizes adaptation and ways that professionals can change to increase the probability that clients will change. Reorganisation and building resilience are treated as central to successful intervention. General and Family Functional Formulations will be introduced to highlight DMM Integrative Treatment.
The model used is the Dynamic-Maturational Model (DMM) of Attachment and Adaptation. The DMM is a strength-based model that is relevant to individuals who are at-risk, have been exposed to danger, display disturbed or maladaptive behaviour, or are diagnosed as having a psychiatric disorder. Emphasis is given to how early and current attachment relationships explain maladaptive behaviour and how these tied to culture and dangerous conditions.
After enrolling on the course you will have the opportunity to apply for assessed certification of the programme. This is pre-requisite to further develop the course content and skills on a follow up Screening Functional Formulation Certificate programme course.
Aims and learning objectives
Core Attachment, neurodevelopment and psychopathology (ANP) programme
Participants of this course will be able to take away new skills, tools and a great insight into treatment planning.
New skills
Skills that can be developed include:
- perceiving discrepant behaviour – seeing commonly overlooked clues to trouble
- identifying false-positive affect – uncovering hidden problems in their early stages
- differentiating symptoms and self-protective strategies – specifying how symptoms function
- functional formulation – moving beyond diagnoses to understanding behaviour
- understanding how exposure to danger shapes adults’ development
- matching treatment to professionals’ and clients’ competencies
- using knowledge of strategic functioning to identify strengths
Treatment planning
We will explore the choosing of treatment strategies to:
- increase efficiency
- lower cost
- reduce risk of iatrogenic harm
Tools
Take-away tools include the following scales:
- level of family functioning
- gradient of intervention
- level of parental reasoning
You will be issued a certificate of attendance by the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust.
Attachment, neurodevelopment and psychopathology (ANP) Certificate programme
We are also offering the opportunity to evidence and certify these outcomes through some additional reading, a test, and short essay. This is referred to as the ANP Certificate Programme. Certificates are issued by the Family Relations Institute in association with the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust. A short meeting will be held near the start of the course for interested delegates to find out more. If you wish to participate, a modest additional fee will be payable to cover the costs of administering and assessing your work.
Once you have earned this certificate you will be able to articulate and apply the above ideas in your place of work.
Screening Functional Formulation (SFF) training and certificate programme
If you successfully complete the ANP Certificate programme you will also be eligible to apply for the Screening Functional Formulation (SFF) training and certificate programme. Here you will:
- learn to apply the DMM assessment,
- be exposed to (ten) more cases assessed in the same way that you can learn from,
- develop written communication and presentation skills,
- and address distinction between fact and opinion.
The programme is certificated (DMM Screening Mental Health Certificate) by the Family Relations Institute following successful completion of the associated assessment.
Who is this course for?
The course is aimed at professionals who work with troubled families or individuals, including:
- psychiatrists
- psychologists
- lawyers
- social workers
- teachers
- nurses
Professionals needing to evidence learning outcomes should continue onto the ANP Certificate programme. If you wish to apply the DMM assessment you should continue further onto the SFF Certificate programme (see above).
Course details
The programme consists of three elements (full details under aims and learning objectives).
Core ANP (Attachment, neurodevelopment, and psychopathology) lecture series and associated certificate of attendance.
The core ANP programme will be ten sessions, each lasting three hours.
Each session includes:
- a developmental overview,
- information processing as it affects self- and child-protective behaviour,
- description of new self-protective strategies that develop at the age level,
- an application of DMM ideas to generate a novel approach to maladaptation,
- treatment strategies drawn from all the major theories of treatment and selected on the basis of information processing and strategy.
| Session | Date | Time |
| 1/10 | Monday 9 December 2024 | 2pm – 5pm (UK time) |
| 2/10 | Friday 13 December 2024 | 2pm – 5pm (UK time) |
| 3/10 | Monday 16 December 2024 | 2pm – 5pm (UK time) |
| 4/10 | Friday 20 December 2024 | 2pm – 5pm (UK time) |
| 5/10 | Monday 13 January 2025 | 2pm – 5pm (UK time) |
| 6/10 | Friday 17 January 2025 | 2pm – 5pm (UK time) |
| 7/10 | Monday 20 January 2025 | 2pm – 5pm (UK time) |
| 8/10 | Friday 24 January 2025 | 2pm – 5pm (UK time) |
| 9/10 | Monday 27 January 2025 | 2pm – 5pm (UK time) |
| 10/10 | Friday 31 January 2025 | 2pm – 5pm (UK time) |
ANP Certificate Programme
- Course information meeting on (13/12/24), after which,
- Applications and additional fee (£120) to be submitted by (20/12/24).
- Further details will be available at the information meeting.
Screening Functional Formulation (SFF) Certificate.
- Successful completion of the ANP Certificate programme above is required.
- Applications will be invited from eligible delegates upon issue of the ANP Certificate programme outcomes.
- Applications to be submitted by 3/3/25 and additional fee (£450), if a place is offered, to be received by 13/3/25.
The SFF Certificate programme will run on the following dates.
| Session | Date | Time |
| 1/10 | Tuesday 1 April 2025 | 3pm – 4.30pm (UK time) |
| 2/10 | Thursday 3 April 2025 | 3pm – 4.30pm (UK time) |
| 3/10 | Tuesday 8 April 2025 | 3pm – 4.30pm (UK time) |
| 4/10 | Thursday 10 April 2025 | 3pm – 4.30pm (UK time) |
| 5/10 | Tuesday 15 April 2025 | 3pm – 4.30pm (UK time) |
| 6/10 | Wednesday 16 April 2025 | 3pm – 4.30pm (UK time) |
| 7/10 | Tuesday 6 May 2025 | 3pm – 4.30pm (UK time) |
| 8/10 | Thursday 8 May 2025 | 3pm – 4.30pm (UK time) |
| 9/10 | Tuesday 13 May 2025 | 3pm – 4.30pm (UK time) |
| 10/10 | Thursday 15 May 2025 | 3pm – 4.30pm (UK time) |
All elements of the course will be delivered remotely using Zoom.
Delegates must be available to attend the live sessions, no recordings will be taken.
You will need a device with a microphone and camera together with a suitably fast internet connection. Although mobile devices and tablets can be used, we recommend the use of a laptop or desktop PC for the best experience. Some devices provided by employers may have restrictions in place. Please use this Zoom test link to check your set up before booking.
You will be sent the necessary login link about a week before the course start date. Should you have any concerns about the accessibility of remote delivery please contact us to discuss how we can best help you.
ANP (Attachment, neurodevelopment, and psychopathology) is structured developmentally and consists of lectures with slides, video, and interview transcripts to demonstrate the patterns and principles of development. A set of readings and exercises, tied to each day’s material, is offered.
An introduction is given to the DMM suite of assessments of attachment and adaptation:
- CARE-Index (ICI, infancy from birth to 15 months)
- Ainsworth Strange Situation (SSP, 11-15 months)
- Toddler CARE-Index (TCI, 16-36 months)
- Preschool Assessment of Attachment (PAA, 2 – 5 years)
- School-age Assessment of Attachment (SAA, 6-13 years)
- Family drawings (4 -13 years)
- Transition to Adulthood Attachment Interview (TAAI, 16-25 years)
- Adult Attachment Interview (mid-20’s forward)
The course covers the following topics:
- course overview and central ideas
- infant development – the need for parental protection and comfort
- the Ainsworth ABC patterns of attachment
- CARE-Index (ICI) Assessment with video
- child abuse and neglect
- post-natal depression and psychosis
- preschool development – the need for parent-child protective hierarchy
- the coercive and compulsive self-protection strategies
- cross-generational parent-to-child strategies
- the Toddler CARE-Index (TCI)
- several of the following – adoption, foster care, ADHD, autism, child sexual abuse
- reducing coercive behaviour
- school-age development– gaining independence, peer attachment figures
- obsessive and deceptive strategies
- somatization
- the School-age Assessment of Attachment (SAA)
- treatment: – hidden problems, recommended and risky practices
- adolescence – integrating sexuality with attachment
- sexual disorders and sexual offending
- dangerous gaps in services and preventative opportunities
- overview and central ideas of treatment in adulthood
- adult psychological development
- protective strategies associated with severe psychopathology
- Adult Attachment Interview (AAI)
- parents interview
- general and family functional formulation (GFF & FFF)
- IASA Family Attachment Court Protocol
- DMM integrative treatment
Please note that Dr Crittenden and Dr Landini intend to cover all topics listed above, but dependent on time and audience requirements, cannot guarantee that all areas will be addressed.
The ANP Certificate programme will be assessed through reading-based tests, some factual multiple-choice questions and a short essay about the personal application of the theory to your own work.
ANP is prerequisite to the Screening Functional Formulation (SFF) training and certificate programme (DMM Screening Mental Health Certificate). This programme will be assessed through a personal, mentored case study, drawn from your caseload, consisting of 10 tasks and a closing paper of 750-1000 words on how you have applied your learning in your daily work.
Participants are strongly encouraged to purchase the course text:
Crittenden, P. M. (2016). Raising Parents: Attachment, Representation, and Treatment. London: Routledge.
Testimonials
Course facilitators
Book your place today
You can book a place at any time. You’ll receive confirmation by email, and we will be in touch approximately one week before the course starts with detailed joining instructions.
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