Accelerated Experiential-Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) is one of the fastest growing approaches to working with attachment trauma.  AEDP’s transformational theory, a basis for putting neuroplasticity into clinical action, is similarly receiving increasing recognition.  Until recently, the mental health field, focused on pathology, and lacked concepts to capture the motivational strivings for health.  Drawing on neuroscience and developmental research, AEDP rectifies the bias towards pathology.  Building on our natural resilience, AEDP’s therapeutics are based on entraining our innate healing capacities, for we are wired for healing, self-righting and for resuming impeded growth.  AEDP's clinical practice shows how to entrain that and harness it in treatment.

AEDP assumes a healthy core within all people and emphasizes the importance of experiential work with attachment, emotion and transformation.  It leverages safety and connection within the therapist-client relationship to facilitate healing.

AEDP has pioneered a methodology that focuses on and experientially works with the somatic affective micromarkers of transformational experience, somatic/affective micromarkers which are invariably accompanied by positive affect. By focusing on these micromarlkers and the positive affect associated with even the smallest of change for the better, AEDP shows neuroplasticity in action as deepening experience in the context of the dyad, while focusing and processing experiential markers of transformational processes, leads to exponential increases in vitality and energy, thus activation positive transformational spirals associated with flourishing. resilience, and well being

The first part of the workshop will focus on working with the experience of attachment within the therapeutic relationship.  Videotaped case examples will show a range of interventions that (a) actively and explicitly work with the experience of the attachment relationship between patient and therapist, and (b) use that relationship to regulate, deepen and work through intense affective experience.  The second part of the workshop will explore working with the experience of core affect until adaptive healing resources are released and harnessed in the service of transforming trauma.  By focusing on the experience of transformation, trauma transforms and energy, vitality and resources are released. Thus the title of this workshop.

This will be an interactive workshop.  A dyadic, collaborative process will be entrained between the presenter and workshop participants.  This process is designed to support the emergence of the very positive transformational phenomena that are at the heart of AEDP.

• Foster a therapeutic stance conducive to dyadic affect regulation
• Describe the phenomenology of the 4 states and 3 state transformations involved in processing emotional experiences and activating transformational processes in AEDP
• Explain experiential techniques to process intense emotional experiences
• Use the patient’s experience of transformation to activate further healing and consolidation of gains already made