The Power of Connection:
Attachment informed approaches to calming anxiety in children and youth (tamariki/rangatahi)
Monday, 9 June 2025
9am - 12.30pm - Online via Zoom
This workshop builds on the foundational concepts Ruth presented in the Attachment Theory (link below) online one-day training. Therefore, it is open to all who have completed the first workshop, or who have not attended the previous training but possess foundational knowledge of Attachment Theory.
View the Applying Attachment Theory to Clinical Practice workshop here
Booking 2 Workshops?
***See below for our Special Offer***
We certainly live in alarming times and our tamariki and rangatahi are showing signs of increased anxiety and distress. To bring our young one’s alarm levels down it is necessary for them to feel safe. Gabor Mate expresses this succinctly: ‘safety is not the absence of threat but the presence of connection’.
Gabor also endorses highly the work of developmental psychologist Dr Gordon Neufeld, with whom he has co-written the book, Hold on to your kids. In this seminar we will use Neufeld’s Attachment-based developmental approach (presented in the first workshop Applying Attachment Theory to Clinical Practice) to examine the underlying dynamics behind anxiety, how anxiety impacts the body, the mind and relationships, and how to bring tamariki/rangatahi to psychological, physical and emotional rest.
Delivered by Dr. Ruth Lawson-McConnell, this workshop is the next step for people who have already attended the 1-day Power of Connection: Attachment Theory workshop provided through Grow, or who possess foundational knowledge of Attachment Theory.
It is for those who want to further develop their understanding by looking at Attachment Theory through the lens of how Attachment-informed approaches can calm anxiety and reduce stress in your younger clients. It will be a deeper dive into the Theory’s practical application.
What material does this seminar cover?
An understanding of anxiety from an attachment perspective and how to work with tamariki and rangatahi to bring their alarm levels into the window of tolerance to experience psychological and physical rest.
Learning Outcomes:
Appraise the phenomenon of escalating alarm in our tamariki/rangatahi population from an attachment perspective.
Understand the importance of physical and psychological rest for human flourishing.
Assess how anxiety affects children and youths:
bodies: biological aspects, physiology, and chemistry of anxiety,
minds: psychological (neuroscience and mental processes)
feelings: emotional effects of alarm problems.
Be able to work with tamariki/rangatahi to calm their anxiety and lead them to psychological rest.
Ruth's presentation includes Māori and Pasifika cultural contexts, and communicates the Te Tiriti o Waitangi values in her teaching approach.
Spaces are limited. Contact us today to make a pencil booking if you are seeking funding approval.
Please Note: this workshop may touch on emotional issues such as grief and/or trauma, and some of the material covered in our workshops may be sensitive or triggering to certain participants. We encourage everyone to practice self-care and either reach out to us, or directly discuss any concerns with our presenter.
Who Should Attend:
As the content of this training builds on what Ruth presented in the Applying Attachment Theory to Clinical Practice workshop, it is highly recommended participants complete this training first.
If you have not already attended the above mentioned Applying Attachment Theory to Clinical Practice workshop it is recommended that you watch her free 1st part of the training based on this material on her website: Attachment Based Counselling – Introduction – Free 1st part – Ruth McConnell
It is suitable for mental health professionals, educators (teachers, teacher aides, RTLB’s, school counsellors), social workers, counsellors, Justice Dept staff (Corrections, Police) - those supporting both adults and children who are displaying attachment issues, or developmental trauma.
NOTE - If your organisation is interested in having Ruth present face-face to between 15 - 40 members of your team, please contact Faye Johnson for more information.
If you do not have sufficient numbers within your team, we recommend you consider opening the training up either to other Branch’s of your organisation or other region-based community agencies you work with. We have worked with many organisations this has worked well for.
What others have said about Ruth’s presentations:
"Thank you Ruth. I feel like I now have a greater understanding of the importance of attachment and an awareness I can take into my clinical practice." Counsellor.
"My knowledge and confidence has increased significantly following this training. Thank you for all the extra resources as well." Health Improvement Practitioner
“This workshop was fantastic. Thank you Ruth - I really got a lot from it.” Psychologist
“Thank you for sharing your wonderful knowledge, humour and inspiration with us during your awesome workshop.”
Price & Registration Information
Online Workshop
$265.00 inc GST
The price stated is per person. Payment in full is required before commencement of the training.
If you are sending 5 or more delegates, please email us for a discounted rate.
Payment online is by VISA, Mastercard or American Express only and there are 3 easy steps to complete the online booking process.
Our registration platform is hosted by Lil Regie, our NZ based booking agent.
Upon completing your registration by hitting the blue 'Confirm Booking' button, you will receive an automated email from Lil Regie confirming the booking and amount paid by credit card. This will appear on your statement as from LIL REGIE LTD WELLINGTON.
A GST Tax Invoice showing your payment in full will also be emailed to you.
If you have any issues or questions about your booking, please contact Faye Johnson or phone 027 607 3000.
Can't pay online and require an invoice?
We work hard to ensure that all workshops are cost effective by automating our systems. If your organisation is unable to use our automated booking system and pay by credit/debit card and therefore require an invoice instead to pay by direct bank credit, there will be a $25.00 inc GST surcharge for this, and you will need to supply the following please:
The full organisation name and postal address required to appear on the invoice.
The contact name and email of the person(s) responsible for authorising this expense and approving payment.
Any purchase order references required on vendor invoices.
Please email this information to Brian - accounts@grow.co.nz and faye@grow.co.nz , and along with the Invoice we will also send you a special booking link which will come up as free of charge. Through this link you will need to complete your registration.
NOTE:
Payment in full is required before commencement of the training.
If you require an Invoice and you are seeking funding approval, please include this surcharge in the price you have on your application.
Our workshops fill quickly so if you would like to reserve a place, please contact faye@grow.co.nz
What happens if you have to cancel?
We know that sometimes your plans can change for many different reasons. Should you be unable to attend, a substitute delegate is welcome to attend at no extra cost. If a substitute delegate is not available and you need to cancel your registration, please be aware of the following:
Online Events - Up to 7 days prior to the event you will be provided a refund of your registration cost, less a $20.00 inc GST per attendee service charge.
Face-Face Events - Up to 7 days prior to the event you will be provided a refund of your registration cost, less a $60.00 inc GST per attendee service charge.
If you cancel within 7 days of the event, you are not eligible to receive a refund. Please note: should your registration not be paid by the time of the event, you are still liable to make the payment. Unpaid accounts may be passed over to our debt collection agency and additional costs may be incurred.
All cancellations must be received in writing (email).
Training is cancellable by GROW with 7 days’ notice if a minimum number of attendees is not met and full refunds will be provided.
Delegates are responsible for their own travel/accommodation bookings and no compensation will be made should the event be rescheduled or cancelled.
For more information see our full Terms of Trade.
****Special Offer****
Book two workshops and receive a 10% discount off the normal workshop price for the
2nd training.
Contact us today and we will send you a special discount booking link.
Additional Attachment Theory Training
Applying Attachment Theory to Clinical Practice
Attachment theory helps us understand that human flourishing happens best when secure attachment is present. This training will outline how healthy attachment develops across the lifespan, what happens when insecure attachment forms, and what clients may need to start to flourish again.Attachment informed approaches to calming anxiety
This workshop is for those who want to further develop their understanding by looking at Attachment Theory through the lens of how Attachment-informed approaches can calm anxiety and reduce stress in your clients. It will be a deeper dive into the Theory’s practical application.Attachment informed approaches to working with depression workshop
Working with unipolar depression from an attachment and trauma informed perspective. This training examines how our clients may have unresolved attachment injuries, leading to high levels of attachment frustration, and how to help move the client from a victim stance to an empowered one.
The following peak bodies and organisations recognise that the training we offer is of a high quality, evidence based and relevant for their members CPD.
About the Presenter:
Dr. Ruth Lawson-McConnell
Ruth Lawson-McConnell is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (Canada) and a member of the New Zealand Counselling Association and the NZ Psychological Society with nearly 30 years experience. She trained and worked in Scotland and Canada, and has been in New Zealand for the past 11 years. She has an MA (Honours) in Social Anthropology and Psychology (Aberdeen University) and a PhD (Counselling Psychology - Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland).
Ruth specialises in attachment issues both in adults and children. She works in private practice where she offers specialist supervision on attachment and trauma with adults, and parent consulting on children’s emotional and behavioural issues. Ruth also lectures and has specialist training as a neuropsychotherapy practitioner and a trauma specialist.
ZOOM Date & Details
Monday, 9 June 2025
Workshops run 9am - 12.30pm
This workshop will be delivered via ZOOM and you will be sent the login in details once you have registered, and emailed resources prior to the training. There will be group discussions and participants are encouraged to ask questions.
This is an interactive workshop with breakout room activities and we therefore ask all participants to have their own computer / laptop with a working camera and mic as this makes interaction with the breakout room activities and discussions easier and enhances the learning for all.
NOTE: This webinar will not be recorded.
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CONTACT FAYE
For further details, please contact:
e: faye@grow.co.nz
p: 027 607 3000
Contact Grow
83a Waghorne Street
Ahuriri
Napier 4110
e: info@grow.co.nz
p: 021 751 932
Hours
Monday - Friday: 9.00am - 5.00pm
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