Clinical Use of the Adult Attachment Interview

The 2 dates of this AAI workshop are:

Wednesday, September 10, 2025 & Thursday, September, 2025 (2 days, 3 hours each day)

Times: 12PM-3PM ET / 11AM-2PM CT / 10AM-1PM MT / 9AM-12PM PT (Both days)

L ocation: Online via Zoom

This 6-hour online interactive workshop will introduce participants to the clinical use of the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI). Participants will learn how to correctly administer the AAI, how to prepare the person being interviewed, and the proper use of specific prompts within the interview. The AAI coding system will be reviewed and implications of each classification will be discussed as they relate to clinical intervention and treatment planning. Recordings of interviews will be utilized throughout the workshop and small group discussions will focus on identifying key portions of the interview that highlight various attachment patterns and ways of managing attachment relationships. Participants will also learn various indices related to unresolved trauma in the context of the AAI.

Participants will be given several recommended readings to complete prior to the webinar to enhance learning. Due to the interactive nature of this workshop, the workshop will be limited to 16 participants. Participants will need to join from a computer or tablet with a reliable internet connection. A webcam and microphone (internal or external) will be necessary for participation. Participants need to join on individual devices due to the group work incorporated into the workshop.

Watch a video about an overview of this workshop!

AGENDA: (Times below are ET)

Day 1

• 12:00 – 12:30 PM Relationship between Adult Attachment Interview and Strange Situation Protocol; 4 Primary AAI Classifications
• 12:30 –1:30 PM How and when to administer the AAI Protocol and appropriate use of interview prompts
• 1:30 – 1:45 PM Break
• 1:45 –3:00 PM Grice’s Maxims and clinically significant aspects of the AAI Narrative

Day 2

• 12:00 – 12:30 PM The AAI experience scales and importance of adjectival constellation
• 12:30 – 1:30 PM Various AAI scales associated with each classification. Listening to AAI transcripts to practice recognizing important clinical data
• 1:30 – 1:45 PM Break
• 1:45 –3:00 PM Treatment planning and clinical intervention based on AAI data

FEES & REGISTRATION INFO:

The cost for the event is $449 per person. Space is limited to 16 participants. Registration is open until all spots are filled.

The cost for CEs for Social Workers is $50 for this course.

Due to the preparation needed for this workshop, all sales are final and no refunds will be issued. Transfers of tickets to future AAI workshops will be honored up until 60 days before the event start date. No transfers will be accepted after this 60-day deadline.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

• Complete and properly administer the Adult Attachment Interview and demonstrate how to use various interview prompts
• Identify patterns consistent with the 3 organized AAI classifications - Secure, Dismissing and Preoccupied by listening to responses to Adult Attachment Interview
• Name 2 indices of unresolved trauma
• Utilize the Adult Attachment Interview to inform treatment planning and develop specific treatment plan goals

TARGET AUDIENCE: Social workers, professional counselors. Please note this training is for Licensed Clinicians or license-eligible practitioners only.

CONTENT LEVEL: Intermediate

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:

Karen Doyle Buckwalter, LCSW, RPT-S, is known for captivating audiences with her passion and energy. Karen is also a Theraplay® Trainer and Supervisor as well as a Registered Play Therapy Supervisor. She provides consultation to both individuals and organizations both nationally and internationally related to attachment and trauma issues in clinical work. In addition, Karen formerly hosted the Attachment Theory in Action podcast, which had over 1 million downloads and she is a published author having most recently co-authored Raising the Challenging Child. In 2008, Karen completed the 2-week Intensive Adult Attachment Interview Coding Course at the Attachment and Human Development Center of the Washington School of Psychiatry. She participated in monthly consultation calls with Dr. Miriam Steele reviewing over 200 AAI transcripts from 2009 to 2023.

Participants need to sign on to the training at or before the start time, attend the entire training, sign off at the end of the training and attendance will be verified by pulling an attendance report from zoom. Participants will need to also complete the course evaluation to earn CE credit. Partial credit is not allowed. Certificates of completion will be emailed within 10 business days of course completion. A certificate of attendance can be provided for those not seeking CEs.

SOCIAL WORKERS

Clinical Use of the Adult Attachment Interview, Course #5210, is approved by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program to be offered by Carolina Attachment & Trauma Services LLC as an individual course. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE course approval period: 10/06/2023 - 10/06/2025. Social workers completing this course receive 5.5 clinical continuing education credits.

FOR QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, OR TO REQUEST SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS:

Mailing address: Carolina Attachment and Trauma Services LLC, 713 W. Sumter, Shelby, NC 28150

Phone: 217-316-1396

Email: [email protected]

Web site address: http://www.karendoylebuckwalter.com

The Carolina Attachment and Trauma Services LLC will respond to grievances in a reasonable, ethical and timely manner. Grievances may be submitted by course participants at the email below or email to request the grievance policy. Email: [email protected].

REFUNDS AND CANCELLATIONS:

Due to the preparation needed for this workshop, all sales are final and no refunds will be issued. Transfers of tickets to future AAI workshops will be honored up until 60 days before the event start date. No transfers will be accepted after this 60-day deadline. If a training/event is canceled by Carolina Attachment and Trauma Services LLC, a full refund will be provided.

We reserve the right to cancel any training course, virtual or live, for any reason. Notice will be provided with the option to reschedule for a future course date if available or to receive a full refund of registration fees if canceled by organization. Carolina Attachment and Trauma Services is not responsible for any expenses (including travel) incurred by registrants if a training program is canceled or you are otherwise unable to attend.

To request a cancellation email [email protected].

Host or Publisher Karen Doyle Buckwalter (Carolina Attachment and Trauma Services)