1. Circle of Security-Parenting (COSP)
Presented by: Jody Angel-Trejo, LIMHP, LPC

2. What is COSP and How is it Different?
COSP is an 8 week attachment-based parenting class
For all parents, not just those who have experienced trauma or struggle consistently with their children’s needs
A very reflective and intimate experience for many parents involved
Does not involve a teaching model
DVD based teaching process, guided by reflection and discussion

3. Parent- Child Relationship
Through the relationship with parents and others, infants and toddlers learn what to expect of others.
Nurturing, stable and consistent environments are essential to a young child’s mental health and neural development.
The state of the adults’ emotional well being profoundly impacts the quality of the relationship
The
Parent- Child Relationship

4. We are Hardwired for Relationship
We can handle struggle, as long as we have access to secure attachment and connection.
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That’s part of the nature….nature =hardwire and nurture=softwire…..is doesn’t require a psych degree to be a healing connection.
Trauma, brain and relationships video

5. Circle of Security- Parenting
Why Reflection Matters:
Implicit (procedural) memories are the preverbal memories that we maintain in our brain and body that drive our “auto pilot” and emotional functioning when we are not intentional. The performance of implicit memories is enabled by previous experiences, no matter how long ago those experiences occurred.

6. Impact of Implicit Memories On Parenting and Daily Functioning
When Implicit memories are activated in our day to day experience, they have no time stamp, so we interpret the emotional/visceral/perceptual and behavioral surge as being something entirely caused by an event in the here and now.
People can look quite irrational when in the grips of implicit trauma memories.

7. Promoting Healthy Attachment: The Circle of Security™
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Promoting Healthy Attachment: The Circle of Security™
Every child needs to experience “being with” her caregiver
Every child needs his caregiver to be bigger, stronger, wiser and kind
Seek repair when we experience a rupture
Insecure Attachment- Struggles on the Top or Bottom of the Circle
Disorganization: Limited Hands—Lack of being bigger, stronger, wiser and kind instead a presence of mean, weak, and gone
We require connection.
When it is ruptured, it needs to be repaired.
When it is, on a consistent basis, we feel secure.
When it’s not, we feel insecure and disorganized.

8. Circle of Security- Parenting
Bigger, Stronger, Wiser and Kind
Unregulated fear and helplessness become overwhelming for a child only when they cannot share it with someone who is Bigger, Stronger, Wiser, and Kind
During a time of stress or tragedy a child’s caregiver is the center of her world and the resource who will make the difference
Fear = terror and helplessness=despair

9. we are imperfect and wired for struggle but you are worthy of love and belonging…..
Bobby huggins video

10. Connection: -When it is ruptured, it needs to be repaired.
-We require connection for growth.
-When it is ruptured, it needs to be repaired.
-When it is repaired, on a consistent basis, we feel secure.
-When it’s not, we feel insecure and disorganized.
- COSP helps parents understand this from a child’s perspective and the importance of their role with their child.

11. What Do Participants Learn?
Strategies to strengthen the parent-child relationship
How to be present with children during the best and toughest of times
How to recognize a child’s needs and make sense of his or her behaviors
How to meet the child’s needs by being bigger, stronger, wiser and kind
How procedural memory impacts their ability to meet their child’s needs
Jamie talk here about her experience in the class
Shark music video

12. What COSP is and What it Isn’t
A reflective model, not a prescriptive model
An opportunity for the participant to reflect on his/her own childhood experiences and how they impact his/her parenting behaviors
An opportunity to experience “Being With”
Based on a model of “good enough” parenting
Katie talk here about her experience in the class

13. “Every child on this planet needs to have one simple reality confirmed: I matter and I matter absolutely to someone” --Kent Hoffman