This new three-part attachment workshop is designed for adoptive applicants (waiting parents) to deepen their understanding of how early relationships, loss, and trauma shape a child’s development. It centers on helping caregivers recognize how children communicate needs through behaviour and how responsive caregiving builds secure attachment.
The workshops will take place over two evening sessions on Wednesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. An optional follow‑up support group session will be held on Wednesday, June 3, from 7 to 9 p.m.
Participants will learn to reframe challenging behaviours as meaningful communication and develop practical strategies for attunement, co-regulation, and repair. By the end of the series, caregivers will feel more confident responding to children in ways that strengthen connection, trust, and long-term well-being.
Format:
This series is comprised of two educational sessions, each 1.5 hours in length, and one final participant support group session (this component is encouraged but not mandatory), 2 hours in length.
The cost for the entire series is $25, paid during registration.
Workshop dates and times:
Wednesday, May 20, 2026, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Optional support group session:
Wednesday, June 3, 2026, from 7 to 9 p.m.
About the facilitator
Ashleigh Martinflatt (BA CYC, MSW, PhD CYC) has been working in the permanency field for almost 20 years. Along with teaching at Vancouver Island University, she has her own private counselling practice in Nanaimo. Ashleigh has built her family through adoption and continues to learn from her children every day.