WHO WE ARE
The leading educational center dedicated to the advancement of IAT
Our institute is committed to providing groundbreaking training and research that empowers mental health professionals to effectively treat attachment insecurity in adults, helping patients/clients to achieve inner security, relationship satisfaction, and emotional well-being. We offer a transformative learning experience for clinicians designed to deepen understanding of attachment theory and its practical applications in psychotherapy.
What we stand for
OUR VISION
We envision a world where secure attachment is universally recognised as the foundation for self-development, for establishing secure, meaningful relationships, and for creating and maintaining healthy communities. Understanding security and how to promote in a variety of contexts it can help everyone develop even a little bit more toward their potentials for well-being, self-expression, and connections, contributing to a world with more harmony, creativity, and peace.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to offer cutting-edge education and training in Integrative Attachment Therapy, grounded in the latest research and clinical expertise. By fostering a comprehensive understanding of attachment, we aim to empower clinicians to work effectively with patients/clients who experience attachment disruptions, ultimately promoting healthier, more secure relationships for individuals, couples, and communities worldwide.
WHO INSPIRED US
History and lineage
The IAT Institute was founded upon the work of Dr. David Elliott and the late Dr. Daniel P. Brown, pioneers in the field of the application of attachment theory to psychotherapy. Together with a group of their colleagues, over many years they examined the strengths and weaknesses of the many therapeutic approaches for treating adult attachment insecurity. Their groundbreaking 2016 book, Attachment Disturbances in Adults: Treatment for Comprehensive Repair, was the culmination of their study, and described their creative integration of the best aspects of many therapies into an approach accessible to all clinicians.
They named this approach the Three Pillars of attachment repair. Subsequently, David Elliott, Nigel Denning, and Traill Dowie further developed this work into the current Integrative Attachment Therapy principles and methods. The IAT Institute has become a hub for training and research with IAT, which continues to evolve as more and more is understood about attachment dynamics and psychotherapy processes.
HOW WE BEGAN
Our founders
The IAT Institute was co-founded by Dr. David Elliott, Nigel Denning and Dr. Traill Dowie. Dr. Elliott, a Harvard-trained clinical psychologist, is an internationally recognized expert in attachment repair. His work, building upon his mentoring from and collaboration with the late Dr. Daniel Brown, has revolutionized the treatment of attachment insecurity in adults. Nigel Denning, a renowned counseling psychologist, has played a pivotal role in advancing IAT alongside Dr. Elliott. Dr. Traill Dowie is a philosopher, educator, and psychotherapist, whose unique perspective integrates philosophy, psychotherapy, and several fields of research to enrich the IAT model.
Our team of distinguished professionals
FACULTY
The faculty at the IAT Institute is composed of experts in the field of attachment-based therapy. Our current primary instructors are our founders: Dr. David Elliott, who teaches internationally on attachment repair and clinical psychology. Nigel Denning, who draws from his extensive background in psychological education and practice, and Dr. Traill Dowie who blends philosophy and psychology to deepen the understanding of attachment dynamics.
ADVISORY BOARD
The IAT Institute's Advisory Board consists of distinguished professionals and thought leaders from the fields of psychology, psychotherapy, and various fields of mental health. Their guidance ensures that our programs remain at the forefront of attachment theory and therapeutic innovation, continually enriching our curriculum and supporting the institute’s growth.
