Foundations in Attachment Theory and Sex (4 CE Hours)

Description

Foundations in Attachment Theory and Sexuality, presented by Dr. Kimberly Castelo and Kyle Benson, offers an in-depth exploration of attachment and its vital role in therapy, relationships, and sexual connection. Designed for therapists and helping professionals, the workshop provides both theoretical grounding and practical application. 

The course begins with exploring how context including cultural shapes attachment styles before explaining the foundations of attachment theory, tracing the origins from John Bowlby’s and Mary Ainsworth’s groundbreaking research to modern understandings of how attachment systems shape relational and sexual behavior. Participants will learn to identify and work with the four main adult attachment styles while exploring how these styles impact sexual dynamics

in adult relationships. The course will explore how attachment strategies impact sexual intimacy and relational cycles, illustrated through engaging metaphors such as the Octopus, Turtle, and Jellyfish. The training also emphasizes the therapist’s role as a surrogate secure base, providing corrective emotional experiences that can help clients shift toward security.

An additional focus of the presentation is cultural humility. Through the ORCA framework (Openness, Respect, Curiosity, Accountability to power), participants will learn how cultural, systemic, and historical contexts shape attachment patterns. The course highlights the importance of integrating intersectionality, acknowledging power dynamics, and adapting interventions to align with clients’ cultural values and lived experiences.

By the end, participants will leave with a deeper understanding of attachment theory and how attachment strategies impact the sexual dynamic.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Explain the key principles of attachment theory and its historical foundations.
2. Identify different attachment styles and describe their relational and sexual impact.
3. Learn Introductory attachment-informed interventions to support clients in therapy.
4. Integrate cultural humility into attachment-based clinical work.
5. Understand the ORCA framework (Openness, Respect, Curiosity, Accountability to power) in the work with clients.

Activity Schedule

Module 1: Cultural Humility & ORCA Framework (45 minutes)

• Defining cultural humility in attachment-based therapy
• The ORCA model: Openness, Respect, Curiosity, Accountability to power
• Recognizing systemic and cultural factors that shape attachment
• Integrating intersectional awareness into practice

Module 2: Foundations of Attachment Theory (60 minutes)

• Historical origins: Bowlby & Ainsworth
• Development of attachment styles across the lifespan
• The attachment system: hyperactivation & deactivation strategies
• Adaptive functions of attachment behaviors

Module 3: Attachment Styles & Presentations (75 minutes)

• The four main adult attachment patterns: secure, anxious-preoccupied, dismissive-avoidant, disorganized
• Relational and sexual impacts of attachment styles
• Illustrated metaphors: Octopus, Turtle, Jellyfish, Dolphin
• Common cycles and client presentations

Module 4: Relationship Dynamics & Therapeutic Interventions (60 minutes)

• How attachment styles interact in relationships and sexual dynamics
• Secure base and safe haven concepts
• Therapist as a temporary surrogate secure attachment

Module 5: Resources & Integration (15 minutes)

• Recommended readings and tools for continued learning
• Closing summary

Speaker Bio

Dr. Kimberly Castelo specializes in sex and attachment.  Dr. Castelo is certified and is a supervisor in all the EFT modalities and as a Sex Therapist. She brings a wealth of experience, practical interventions and invaluable information about the power of attachment in sex therapy.  Over the years she has heard sex therapists say – “I love attachment, but I am not sure how it fits into sex therapy” OR “I love attachment work, but not sure how to bring up sex!”  Attachment theory joined with sex therapy can foster the secondary change we are hoping occurs with our clients regardless of their presenting concern! Kimberly will help you learn and thrive as you become a Certified Sex Attachment Therapist (CAST). Let’s begin to learn to hear the heart (attachment longing) of our clients.

Kyle Benson, MA, is a Certified Sex Therapist specializing in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for couples and individuals navigating relational distress. He is a contributing author of Infidelity: A Practitioner’s Guide to Working with Couples in Crisis (2nd ed.),  co-host of The Roadmap to Secure Love podcast, and promotes research-backed tools for building secure romantic relationships on his website Kylebenson.net.

Class originally recorded: 11/26/2025.

Social workers completing this course receive 4 clinical continuing education credits.