As parents we try our best but it can be a minefield trying to make sense of all the information and do’s and don’ts of parenting, and it’s not always easy to know what we should be doing. That's why we're delighted to be able to offer a range of options to support including our Circle of Security Parenting™ Programme for caregivers who would like support to navigate the challenges of parenting. We also offer some free parenting sessions for those unable to commit to the full Circle of Security Parenting™ Programme.
Who we are
Our parenting programme is run by Counselling Psychologist, Dr Gail Wilson. Gail's extensive experience in mental health and support services means she is expertly placed to support caregivers to reflect on their parenting approach and how it contributes to their relationships with the children in their care. Gail is a parent herself, and it was a recognition about her own desire to be able to come together with other parents to learn about parenting that brought this group to life. What she wanted was a safe space for parents to reflect and learn about themselves as caregivers, how they notice their child's needs, how they communicate with their children, and how to use their relationship with their child to promote secure attachment.
Circle of Security Parenting
Why choose Circle of Security Parenting?
As psychologists, we wanted to be sure that we were offering something based on sound research and had proven effectiveness. Circle of Security Parenting™ is an internationally recognised parenting course, designed and proven to help parents strengthen their relationships with their children, understand and respond to their children’s needs more effectively, and help their children build secure attachments. It’s based on over 50 years of psychological theory and research into child development and has a wealth of research into its effectiveness (see https://www.circleofsecurityinternational.com/circle-of-security-model/research/ for more information).
What is Circle of Security Parenting?
The theory of attachment between child and primary caregiver is at the core of Circle of Security Parenting™. It was because of this that Gail decided to become a licensed facilitator in their 8 week group programme. Secure attachment is evidenced to be associated with better health and life outcomes which means it is vitally important to be aware of how we impact the development of our children's attachment styles through our parenting. Through her facilitation, Gail provides a forum to understand and reflect on all of this in a non-judgemental and supportive way. The group programme will be facilitated in a structured way, with topics for each week to be covered. There are opportunities to contribute to group discussions, however this is not expected of each participant. What is most important is your self-reflection.
Week 1: Welcome to Circle of Security Parenting Week 2: Exploring our Children's Needs All the Way Around the Circle Week 3: "Being With" on the Circle Week 4: Being with Infants on the Circle Week 5: The Path to Security Week 6: Exploring our Struggles Week 7: Rupture and Repair in Relationships Week 8: Summary and Celebration
Programme details
Groups run weekly for 8 weeks and are held in our clinic in Dundee City Centre. Please contact us to find out when our next group is.
The cost is £240 to attend the 8 week group programme. Each weekly session is 1.5 hours, with half an hour provided at the end of each session for questions to be asked in confidence with Gail.
Free Parenting Sessions
We know that it can be hard to commit to an 8 week programme, both in terms of time and money, and we believe that parenting support should be available to all families. That's why we've decided to offer free stand alone sessions to parents and caregivers of infants and toddlers.
These sessions are 2 hours long and cover the basics of understanding our children's attachments, how to recognise our children's cues, and are founded on evidence based approaches. These sessions provide a space to come together with other parents and caregivers to reflect on our own experiences as parents in a comfortable and supportive environment.
How do I book?
To book, or for more information, please contact us on [email protected].
