Early Life Attachment Difficulties and Addiction Counseling

with Ray McGarty, MS, MLADC, LCS
A 6 hour training event Tuesday, March 23, 2010

8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (registration begins at 8:00 a.m.)
at NH Primex, 46 Donovan St., Concord, NH

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTATION:    The role of early life attachment experiences is clearly related to identity, emotion regulation and interaction style.  Recent neuroscience research supports the central role of attachment concepts, originally developed by Bowlby, in understanding many forms of psychopathology and personality development in general.  Recent research related to addictive disorders, stresses the primary role of brain stems involved in emotion regulation as central to understanding and treating such disorders.  Individuals with addiction issues have long been characterized as having difficulty identifying, tolerating, and appropriately utilizing emotions, particularly in the context of relationships.  Brain systems involved in emotion regulation and addictive disorders primarily develop in the context of early life attachment relationships with primary caregivers.  As Shore has stated "...the infant's emerging social, psychological and biological capacities cannot be understood apart from its relationship with the mother."  This training will review recent research related to attachment styles.  We will explore the implications of these concepts for the counseling process, the therapeutic alliance and the development and maintenance of addictive behaviors.  Both didactic and experiential formats will be utilized.

CPS Categories:   Prevention Practice and Multi Cultural
LADC Performance Domains:  I & II                               Categories of Competence:  1, 3, 5-7, 15-17

 ABOUT THE PRESENTER:  Ray McGarty, MS, MLADC, LCS, is currently Executive Director of Southeastern NH Alcohol and Drug Services.  He has a long-standing private practice, primarily working with issues related to trauma.  He has extensive training in various methods of trauma treatment including EMDR and Somatasensory Psychotherapy.  He has provided training, technical assistance, consultation and clinical supervision to many organizations nationally.  He has an extensive background in addiction, holding such positions as Clinical Administrator at the Betty Ford Center and Executive Director of a number of addiction treatment organizations.

 Register by:     ASAP while space is available           

Fee:  NHADACA Members $25.00                Non-Members $35.00                     Lunch will be provided

 For registration information contact:  Kim Hoitt, 528-6800 or   nhtiad@myfairpoint.net