Connect is an evidence-supported, manualized, 10-session, attachment-based parenting program designed for parents and other caregivers of children and youth who are experiencing serious mental health challenges. This group-based intervention integrates emotion-focused exercises, role-plays, and reflective discussions to enhance parent reflective functioning, responsive caregiving, dyadic affect regulation, and parent–child partnership.
This one-day workshop begins with an overview of the foundational principles of the Connect program, including its structure, key therapeutic targets, and a review of the supporting evidence base. Critical program components across sessions are highlighted and illustrated.
The workshop continues with three panel discussions featuring an international group of speakers who will describe program adaptations and research across diverse populations, including fathers; adoptive, kinship, and foster caregivers; and childcare staff working in youth residential settings. Presenters will also address implementation with caregivers across a range of countries and cultural contexts, including families in Japan, displaced Ukrainian families in Canada, and parents and caregivers in Kenya and South Africa.
Overall, this workshop offers clinical researchers and practitioners an introduction to the Connect program while showcasing the work of the Connect International Network. Presentations will emphasize implementation across diverse countries, cultures, and contexts, with the aim of promoting international accessibility, scalability, and sustainability.
Chair & Moderator
Dr. Marlene Moretti, Connect Program Developer, Professor, Canada Research Chair, Simon Fraser University, Canada
Organizer: Connect International Network in collaboration with the Special Interest Research Group on Evidence Based Applications of Attachment Research
Fee: €75 (Coffee/tea and snacks provided; lunch on your own)
For details and program, see updates on: https://www.connectattachmentprograms.org/latest-news/evidence-based-applications-of-attachment-research-eaar-open-pre-conference-workshop-2026-international-attachment-conference