984-Nurturing Secure Attachment Through the Lifespan

Counselor Toolbox Podcast with DocSnipes

### Video Summary

**Title:** Forming a Foundation that Nurtures Secure Attachment at All Ages

**Presenter:** Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes

**Link:** [Watch the video](https://youtu.be/szThsSAmi1k?si=SeCbD5VyHP_yUp-N)

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#### Introduction

- Importance of secure attachment throughout life

- Explanation of the CARES approach to creating secure attachment

- Identifying challenges and promoting secure attachment in different age groups

#### CARES Approach to Secure Attachment

1. **Consistency**: Caregivers must be reliably present and dependable.

2. **Attention**: Providing necessary attention and presence to children.

3. **Responsiveness**: Addressing children's needs promptly and effectively.

4. **Empathy**: Validating and empathizing with children's feelings.

5. **Solutions**: Helping children learn to regulate emotions and solve problems.

#### Effects of Secure Attachment

- Individuals feel lovable and worthy of support

- Learn that others are available and responsive

- Develop good emotional regulation skills

- Tolerate frustration and distress

- Gain a sense of self-efficacy and resilience

- Comfortable with ambiguity and changes

- Effective communication and problem-solving skills

#### Promoting Secure Attachment in Infancy

- Meeting biological needs (food, shelter, comfort)

- Protecting from overstimulation

- Ensuring safety and consistent presence

- Providing attention, affection, and unconditional positive regard

- Building trust and self-confidence

#### Promoting Secure Attachment in Toddlers and Preschoolers

- Encouraging self-esteem and self-efficacy

- Supporting autonomy and initiative

- Being consistent and responsive to needs

- Encouraging exploration and experimentation

- Helping them understand and regulate their emotions

- Developing empathy and problem-solving skills through play

#### Promoting Secure Attachment in Middle and High School

- Supporting exploration and independence

- Understanding and allowing secure attachments with peers

- Setting and maintaining consistent limits and rules

- Being empathetic and authentic during disagreements

- Modeling emotion regulation and distress tolerance

- Sustaining goal-directed partnerships and mutual respect

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### Time Codes for Major Points

02:00 Introduction to secure attachment and CARES approach

10:30 Effects of secure attachment at any age

20:00 Promoting secure attachment in infancy

30:45 Importance of consistency and responsiveness for toddlers

45:15 Encouraging exploration and self-efficacy in preschoolers

01:00:00 Supporting independence and peer attachments in adolescents

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