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Class Details

Circle of Security Parenting®

You will complete eight, 90-minute sessions learning, reflecting, and applying the Circle of Security Parenting® model, an attachment research-backed program applicable to all parents, regardless of background. It will help parents become more aware of their role in their child's emotional regulation and use that awareness to develop parenting strategies that lay a strong foundation for secure attachment. This benefits child development and self-regulation skills as the child matures.

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Group Class

The Group Class is $950 for caregiver partners and $550 for single caregivers.

 

The in-person class includes:

  • Confirmed spot for class participant(s)  

  • The Circle of Security workbook and journal

  • Curated resources that align with parent reflection outcomes during class facilitation

 

The virtual class includes:

  • Confirmed spot for class participant(s)  

  • Emailed .pdf of the Circle of Security workbook 

  • Curated resources that align with parent reflection outcomes during class facilitation

 

Upon completion of all eight chapters, both virtual and in-person attendees will receive a certificate that confirms full participation in this program.

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Taught by Sarah Fortin.

When to Start

This program is ideal to start any time after your child is four months. While it is especially effective through your child's first six years, it is never too late to take the program. The key to Circle of Security is to take the time to reflect and practice what you learn. In a lifetime of relationship with your child, there is always time to adjust and reset to create something stronger and better together. 

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Read the missed class policy on the registration form.

 

Email Sarah with any questions at sarahkfortin@iycllc.com. 
 

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Course Breakdown

Circle of Security Parenting®

Chapter 1:
Welcome to Circle of Security Parenting®

  • Introductions and group acclimatization.

  • Create a safe and secure environment for sharing and reflection.

  • Introduce the Circle of Security concept and how it is always happening in everyday life.

  • Recognize the circle pattern and identify strategies for how to observe it outside of class.

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Chapter 2:
Around the Circle

  • Explore our children’s needs all the way around the Circle model.

  • Increase our observational and inferential skills using behavioral descriptions and informed decision making.

  • Reflect about providing caregiving functions as represented by Hands and Bigger, Stroger, Wiser, and Kind on the Circle model.

  • Explore our tipping points into Mean and Weak and our impact on our children when that happens.

  • Discuss how children observe all these actions as cues about going out to explore or coming in to seek comfort.

Chapter 3:
"Being With" on the Circle

  • Explore how communicating feelings builds foundational emotional connection with your child.

  • Explore how teaching children to manage their emotions within the context of their relationship with you is essential to developing secure attachment.

  • Reflect on Being With as a state of mind more than a technique, something that becomes especially important when intense emotions arise.

Chapter 4:
Being With Infants on the Circle

  • NOTE: This session is relevant even with parents of older children because it explains the foundational relationship.

  • Establish how babies require relationship consistent with the Circle Model.

  • Demonstrate a simple form of attunement to an infant's shifts in attention and emotion.

  • Reframe “difficult baby” behaviors by discussing their dynamic process of feelings and behaviors.

  • Introduce responses to “Feeling Okay / Not Okay” and “Going out / Coming In” as a foundation for secure attachment.

  • Reflect on how infants cannot learn to organize their feelings without our support.

Chapter 5:
The Path to Security

  • Explore our vulnerability with the metaphor of Shark Music.

  • Introduce the Path of Security as the model of change.

  • Reflect on what you are doing and not yet doing to support the Path of Security for your children.

  • Process how children’s negative behaviors are self-protective and not motivated by mean, hostile, or uncaring intentions.

  • Discuss “Limited Circles” and their impacts on you and your child.

  • Strategize new ways of Being With your children by seeing the “where” and “how” of their struggles.

Chapter 6:
Exploring Our Struggles

  • Explore our role on the Circle as Hands and as Bigger, Stronger, Wiser, and Kind.

  • Process the differences between Bigger, Strong, Wiser, and Kind and Mean / Weak / Gone.

  • Evaluate strategies to strengthen your Bigger, Stronger, Wiser, and Kind skills.

  • Discuss how our role as Hands on the Circle can be connected to our children acting out.

Chapter 7:
Rupture and Repair in Relationships

  • The strategies for repair are different here than most other parenting programs; you’ll learn why!

  • Evaluate why a key part of relationship quality with your child (and others) is repair.

  • Gain a deeper comprehension of what it means for a child to “miscue.”

  • Discuss the cause of ruptures with your child, and the key to repair.

  • Review the “Time In” strategy.

Chapter 8:
Summary and Celebration

  • Review key concepts, summarize and answer questions.

  • Debrief experiences with the class, key takeaways, and how you have applied concepts.

  • Discuss next step actions and resources.

  • Celebrate and close out.

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