The Circle of Security Intervention: Enhancing Attachment in Early Parent-Child Relationships

by Bert Powell MA, Glen Cooper, Kent Hoffman

Presenting both a theoretical foundation and proven strategies for helping caregivers become more attuned and responsive to their young children's emotional needs (ages 0-5), this is the first comprehensive presentation of the Circle of Security (COS) intervention. The book lucidly explains the conceptual underpinnings of COS and demonstrates the innovative attachment-based assessment and intervention strategies in rich clinical detail, including three chapter-length case examples. Reproducible forms and handouts can be downloaded and printed in a convenient 8 1/2" x 11" size. COS is an effective research-based program that has been implemented throughout the world with children and parents experiencing attachment difficulties. The authors are corecipients of the 2013 Bowlby-Ainsworth Award, presented by the New York Attachment Consortium, for developing and implementing COS. See also the authors' related parent Raising a Secure How Circle of Security Parenting Can Help You Nurture Your Child's Attachment, Emotional Resilience, and Freedom to Explore.

Genres: Parenting, Psychology, Nonfiction, Mental Health, Counselling

426 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

As far as pre-packaged parent information programs go, CoS is one of the best. And for any practitioner who has not previously been given a cohesive "framework" for understanding parent-infant attachment, I don't think you can go past the CoS model to bring everything into a very practical metaphor. Like all metaphors, it's not perfect, but CoS is pretty close. It certainly serves the need being able to make sense of the breadth of attachment research into something coherent and workable 'in the field'.

While text does not give the methods for the program, it beautifully underscores the theory behind the program and addresses many of the questions and challenges that can arise in using CoS-P and CoS with parents.

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is truly a gift. Grounded in 50 years of research on human relationships, the COS intervention provides a powerful framework for building love, trust, and resilience in struggling families. The subject of attachment can easily be diluted into academic oversimplification, but the authors write with compassion, nuance, and heart, offering vibrant case examples of parent-child relationships in the process of repair. More than a guide for clinical intervention, this book teaches us the power of Being-With one another in building a more connected, empathic society.

[Jonathan Case · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dense, clinical, powerful. There's great content for most early-childhood interveners--parents, teachers, professionals. Most of the content of the book is directed towards professionals. I'm impressed with the clear concise presentation of complex information gathered from years of thoughtful research. The model brings a lot of light to the strange situation data. I borrowed this book from a colleague and have since ordered my own copy because I want to mark and tab the whole book. This will be a tremendous resource for my practice.

[Vero · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will help you see the parent/child relationship in a completely different way. It also provides punctual and specific interventions with families which is very helpful. Worth the read but the material is dense.

[Mills College Library]

155.4192 P8824 2014

[Kim Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Circle works well in all relationships - love it for teens