Working with Attachment Trauma Using Lessons from the AAP, Failed Mourning, Disorganized/Dysregulated Attachment with Dr. Carol George (210)

Explore attachment trauma with attachment assessment expert Dr. Carol George!

We have the privilege of speaking again with Dr. Carol George, a pioneer in developing attachment assessments for children and adults. Based on her decades of experience identifying patterns she has a lot to teach us about what attachment disruptions really look like in real life and in therapy.

This episode also explores concepts from her new book: Working with Attachment Trauma Clinical Application of the Adult Attachment Projective Picture System. Sue Marriott and Dr. George discuss ideas such as failed mourning, preoccupation with personal suffering and the current perspectives on what used to be called disorganized attachment.

She co-authored the Adult Attachment Interview with Mary Main and created the Adult Attachment Projective Picture System, which is Sue’s go-to assessment for those looking to learn more about their implicit unconscious relational beliefs. With her decades of research, Dr. George offers unique and time-tested insights into applying the science of attachment and trauma.

“We’re never trying to change anybody. We’re trying to capitalize on defensive strengths to create integration & to help people move towards the path to security.” – Dr. Carol George Time Stamps for Working with Attachment Trauma & Pathological Mourning

00:00:56 – Carol’s motivation for her new book

7:17 – A brief recap of the AAP

10:02 – What makes the AAP unique compared to other tests

12:31 – How to access your own AAP

20:17 – How do you talk to your clients about the results of their assessment?

23:52 – Understanding pathological mourning

25:25 – Introducing the terms failed protection and attachment trauma

30:05 – The relationship between failed mourning and dismissive attachment

31:24 – Exploring preoccupation with personal suffering

40:59 – Why does Dr. George not prefer the term “disorganized”

50:39 – “Anger is part of our biology” – Dr. George

55:28 – Techniques to help integrate past and present

1:12:51 – Discussing the Cowans family systems study

Resources for today’s episode Attachment Trauma & Pathological Mourning

AAPInfo@Comcast.net – Contact information if you’re interested in AAP

Adult Attachment Publications – List of credible publications and learning materials

Attachment Projective – Official website with training opportunities and resources

Changing Families: A Preventive Intervention Perspective – Study by Carolyn & Phillip A. Cowan

Attachment in Psychotherapy – Book by David J. Wallin, how attachment patterns feed into clinical work

Ideal Parent Figure Protocol – Guided imagery created by David Elliott and Daniel Brown

Click here to check out Dr. George’s newest book!!

Related Therapist Uncensored Episodes w Dr. George – we’ve got so much to share!!

https://therapistuncensored.com/episodes/using-the-adult-attachment-projective-aap-assessment-with-carol-george/

https://therapistuncensored.com/episodes/attachment-assessment-unpacked-163/

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About our Guest – Dr. Carol George

Carol George, Ph.D., is Professor Emerita of Psychology at Mills College in Oakland, California, and has been a pioneer in developing attachment assessments for children and adults. George is an internationally renowned attachment expert who was a co-director of the Mills College Infant Mental Health program for 21 years. Working alongside Dr. Main and Dr. Kaplan, her dissertation helped develop the Adult Attachment Interview. She is praised for her work as an author and editor, and is known for her contributions to attachment-based representative assessments like the Caregiving Interview, the Attachment Doll Play Projective Assessment, and “Disorganized Attachment and Caregiving,” alongside Judith Soloman. Her other contributions include “The Adult Attachment Projective Picture System” with Malcolm West. Although retired from being a professor, George is still incredibly active and stays busy being an assistant editor on the editorial board of Attachment and Human Development, as well as the Director of the AAP Training Consortium. Her dedication to education is still prevalent as she often hosts extensive clinical consultations with practicing therapists, graduate students, and other students of attachment.

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Click here to view today’s episode Working with Attachment Trauma

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