Attachment and Developmental Trauma: Understanding Early Relationships and Their Lifelong Impact

This course examines how early attachment experiences and developmental trauma shape emotional, cognitive, and relational functioning across the lifespan. Drawing primarily from Attached (Levine & Heller, 2010), Trauma and Recovery (Herman, 1992), and The Body Keeps the Score (Van Der Kolk, 2014), the course explores the interplay between secure and disrupted relationships, the neurobiology of trauma, and pathways toward healing. Students will gain a nuanced understanding of how attachment serves as a protective and organizing force in development, how trauma disrupts regulation and trust, and how recovery unfolds through safety, connection, and integration. Emphasis will be placed on linking theory to application, case examples, and emerging therapeutic approaches. Class sessions will blend lecture, discussion, and applied activities including reflection, case analysis, and multimedia materials. The course is designed for upper-level students who have prior exposure to basic developmental or clinical psychology.