DYADIC DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOTHERAPY - Level 2

Final chance to attend a Level 2 workshop until 2026

Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy Level 2

Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy/ Practice (DDP) is an intervention model developed by Dan Hughes, Clinical Psychologist (U.S.A.). DDP is family-based and is focused on facilitating the child’s readiness and ability to establish a secure attachment with his/her caregivers. It is called Dyadic Developmental Practice both to focus attention on the importance of reciprocity in parenting, caregiving and therapy, and also to draw attention to the fact that abuse, neglect and trauma can seriously impact on the child’s developmental age and stage. This intervention is theoretically based on the models of attachment theory and intersubjectivity, and is consistent with the needs of children and young people who have experienced developmental trauma. It is an approach that:

• Integrates recent research in the areas of neurobiology of trauma, early child development and attachment theory, to produce a therapeutic and parenting approach that assists professionals to understand and effectively support children with trauma- attachment problems, and their families

• Communicates playfulness, acceptance, curiosity and empathy (PACE) in order to help the child regulate their feelings (often fear, shame and anger) associated with past experiences and to create together new meanings to be integrated into the child’s life story (autobiographical narrative).

• Recognises the vital role which adoptive parents, foster carers and residential workers play in the recovery of traumatised, attachment-resistant children.

• Provides a set of principles that can support networks; inform and enrich parenting; and can support the child outside of the home eg in residential settings and at school

DDP Level Two Training

This DDP Level Two 4-day (28 hour) workshop is open to clinical psychologists, social workers, parent mentors, therapists and other practitioners, who have completed the 4-day Level One training. It follows on from the ideas and skills introduced in Level One and is suitable for those who are beginning to use the principles and interventions in their day-to-day work. 

The aims of this training are:

• To gain a deeper understanding of the theory and practice of the interventions and parenting principles used in this approach.
• To follow up on any relevant themes that participants would like more teaching on.
• For each participant to have opportunities to focus on the successes and barriers experienced in applying the model in their practice via supervision or consultation about their work with families or their specific practice. This is the main aim.
• To provide participants with the opportunity to explore (in small groups of 3 people for one hour a day) how their attachment history and experiences may inform and have an impact on their work. 

We also invite a small number of participants (2 max) to bring a taped clinical session to be shown. The trainer shall provide advice on their DDP practice similar to what occurs for DDP Practicum students. To express your interest in this, click here to send an email to Ben at Compass to discuss further. 

A MAXIMUM of 18 participants is permitted. 

Presented by: Sian Phillips, Ph.D.,C.Psych. is a psychologist in private practice in Kingston, Canada. She specializes in the assessment of trauma and attachment difficulties and works with children, foster parents and adoptive parents using Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy ®©. Sian is a certified DDP therapist, consultant and international trainer. Currently she is trying to help the education system better understand children who have experienced developmental trauma and has developed specialized school programs to work with children who cannot manage the regular school system due to their trauma and attachment difficulties. This work can be accessed at https://www.traumainformededucation.ca/. Sian also provides training to professionals to help develop a greater understanding of how trauma impacts all aspects of development and how to develop relational safety as a foundation for developing trust and healing. She is the co-author of Working with Relational Trauma in Schools and Belonging.

Audience: This training is suitable for professionals who have experience in working with children and families, or parents or caregivers, whose children have experienced developmental trauma and show attachment and relationship difficulties with their primary caregivers. This could be with adoptive parents, foster parents, kinship carers, or caregivers, such as in residential homes. Participants must have completed DDP Level 1.

Mental Health Professionals: All mental health professionals including, but not limited to Clinical Counsellors, Psychologists, Psychotherapists, Psychiatrists, Social Workers, Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Mental Health Workers, Family Therapists, Child Protection and Disability Workers, Guidance Officers, Speech and Language Therapists, Residential Care Workers and Foster Support Workers, and all other mental health professionals looking to support young people and their parents/carers.