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, delivered in partnership with the Family Relations Institute (FRI) 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 completing the course, you will be issued with a certificate of attendance.
The Family Relations Institute offers two follow-on programmes. A reading course to help further evidence your learning from the Attachment, neurodevelopment and psychopathology course. This is a pre-requisite to further develop the course content and skills on the Screening Functional Formulation Certificate programme. Both courses will issue certificates based on accomplishments rather than on attendance.
Further details can be found in the tabs below.
Both programmes are available through Family Relations Institute directly and details of how to enrol will be covered during the ANP course. Enrolment on these additional, optional, programmes will attract an additional fee to be paid directly to the Family Relations Institute.
Any queries from potential participants in these additional programmes can be forwarded to the Family Relations Institute on your behalf.
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) Reading programme
The Family Relations Institute (FRI) 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 Reading Programme. Further details will be made available by the FRI tutors during the course. A modest additional fee will be payable directly to FRI if you wish to pursue this.
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 SFF assessment,
- be exposed to exemplar cases assessed in the same way that you can learn from,
- develop written communication and presentation skills,
- and address distinction between fact and opinion.
It 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
Course details
The programme consists of three elements (full details under aims and learning objectives).
Family Relations Institute in conjunction with the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust
- The core ANP (Attachment, neurodevelopment, and psychopathology) lecture series and associated certificate of attendance.
Family Relations Institute
- ANP Reading Programme.
- Screening Functional Formulation (SFF) Certificate.
- Further details of these elements will be available from Family Relations Institute during the course, including dates, fees, and how to enrol for any participant wishing to pursue these additional elements.
The core ANP programme will be ten sessions, each lasting three hours.
| Sessions | Date | Start time (UK time / GMT) | End time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session 1 of 10 | Monday 1 December 2025 | 14:00 | 17:00 |
| Session 2 of 10 | Friday 5 December 2025 | 14:00 | 17:00 |
| Session 3 of 10 | Monday 8 December 2025 | 14:00 | 17:00 |
| Session 4 of 10 | Friday 12 December 2025 | 14:00 | 17:00 |
| Session 5 of 10 | Monday 15 December 2025 | 14:00 | 17:00 |
| Session 6 of 10 | Friday 19 December 2025 | 14:00 | 17:00 |
| Session 7 of 10 | Friday 9 January 2026 | 14:00 | 17:00 |
| Session 8 of 10 | Monday 12 January 2026 | 14:00 | 17:00 |
| Session 9 of 10 | Friday 16 January 2026 | 14:00 | 17:00 |
| Session 10 of 10 | Monday 19 January 2026 | 14:00 | 17:00 |
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.
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 Reading 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.
Both these elements and their associated assessments are organised directly by the Family Relations Institute.
Participants are strongly encouraged to purchase the course text:
Crittenden, P. M. (2016). Raising Parents: Attachment, Representation, and Treatment. London: Routledge.
Additional reading will be required for the ANP Reading and SFF Certificate Programmes
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.
CPD certificate 