Attachment theory provides useful perspectives on emotionally unstable or borderline personality disorder (BPD); both in terms of how the disorder develops and in terms of therapy. Both clients and therapists may struggle with trust, high levels of negative affect, and therapeutic ruptures. Attachment needs in such clients are highly aroused and often extremely difficult to assuage. Understandably, BPD clients can not only struggle to participate in the therapeutic alliance, but can also view therapists as aloof, uncaring, antagonistic or unsympathetic.

At this practical e-learning course that would be relevant for psychotherapists, clinical psychologists, counsellors and psychiatrists, Dr Gwen Adshead will use a perspective based on attachment theory and the tenets of mentalisation to explore:

  • How the psychopathology of emotional instability develops
  • Hostile, helpless states of mind and epistemic trust
  • The relationship with disorganised attachment and its sequelae
  • How this understanding informs our therapeutic approaches
  • How this understanding influences the way we think about families and their therapeutic needs
  • Language and threat: use of why questions, silence and poor mentalising
  • Preventing and managing attachment anxiety

Course Schedule

Attachment and personality development

  • Brief overview of attachment theory and personality development
  • Attachment and Affect Regulation – developmental studies and fMRI findings
  • Insecure attachment and personality disorder: with emphasis on affect dysregulation
  • Mentalising and affect regulation

Clinical implications

  • Why do people with PD struggle with therapy
  • Activation and deactivation of attachment systems
  • Repetition of Toxic attachments and lack of Trust
  • Mentalising strategies for therapists

Psychotherapeutic implications

This session builds on and continues the theoretical bases considered so far and illustrates practical therapeutic implications for practitioners. Clinical vignettes will be discussed here. Specifically, we consider:

  • Recognising when fragile mentalising capacities are overwhelmed by sudden surges of affect
  • Helping our clients with self soothing and other strategies needed to reduce arousal
  • Self-reflection and work with co-therapists

CPD hours: 5

Ticket prices:

Individual ticket for 2 year access: £125
(note: if you face any problems booking online, please call us at 020 7096 1722)