

Attachment Theory in Action
The Knowledge Center
If you work with kids, families, or clients impacted by trauma, you’re in the right place.
The Attachment Theory in Action Podcast is your go-to podcast for real conversations about trauma, attachment, and making a meaningful difference in the lives of those you serve.
Every other week, host Kirsty Nolan sits down with experts in attachment, trauma, and child development to talk about the stuff that really matters—how trauma shapes behavior and development, how to build stronger relationships, and how to bring these insights into your daily work.
Looking for practical tips you can actually use? Wondering how to better support your clients? Curious about the latest research in attachment and trauma? We’ve got you covered.
With nearly 2 million downloads, over 300 episodes, and a loyal community of listeners, the Attachment Theory in Action Podcast helps professionals like you grow and learn—all in under an hour, every other week.
Whether you’re a therapist, counselor, social worker, parent, or simply someone who cares deeply about helping others, this is a space for learning, growth, and inspiration. Hit follow, and let’s dive into the work that changes lives.
The Attachment Theory in Action Podcast is brought to you by The Knowledge Center at Chaddock. The Knowledge Center has equipped thousands of educators, clinicians, and helping professionals on the latest trauma-informed, attachment based strategies. Visit TKCChaddock.org to learn more.
Want to jump behind the mic and share your expertise? Visit AttachmentTheoryInAction.com to fill out our form to be a guest.
The Attachment Theory in Action Podcast is your go-to podcast for real conversations about trauma, attachment, and making a meaningful difference in the lives of those you serve.
Every other week, host Kirsty Nolan sits down with experts in attachment, trauma, and child development to talk about the stuff that really matters—how trauma shapes behavior and development, how to build stronger relationships, and how to bring these insights into your daily work.
Looking for practical tips you can actually use? Wondering how to better support your clients? Curious about the latest research in attachment and trauma? We’ve got you covered.
With nearly 2 million downloads, over 300 episodes, and a loyal community of listeners, the Attachment Theory in Action Podcast helps professionals like you grow and learn—all in under an hour, every other week.
Whether you’re a therapist, counselor, social worker, parent, or simply someone who cares deeply about helping others, this is a space for learning, growth, and inspiration. Hit follow, and let’s dive into the work that changes lives.
The Attachment Theory in Action Podcast is brought to you by The Knowledge Center at Chaddock. The Knowledge Center has equipped thousands of educators, clinicians, and helping professionals on the latest trauma-informed, attachment based strategies. Visit TKCChaddock.org to learn more.
Want to jump behind the mic and share your expertise? Visit AttachmentTheoryInAction.com to fill out our form to be a guest.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 29, 2020 • 35min
Tenneson Woolf: Creating a Safe Haven and Secure Base within The Circle Way Model - Part2
Karen welcomes Tenneson Woolf to conclude their two-part conversation on The Circle Way Model.
Tenneson Woolf is a facilitator, workshop leader, teacher, blogger, and coach committed to improving the quality of collaboration and imagination needed in groups, teams, and organizations. Woolf's work over 20+ years has been to design and lead meetings in participative formats. From strategic visioning with boards to large conference design to communities just learning to listen again to one another. Woolf has worked significantly with faith communities, educators, and foundation leaders. Woolf holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology (1988) and a masters degree in Organizational Behavior (1993).

Sep 22, 2020 • 30min
Tenneson Woolf: Creating a Safe Haven and Secure Base within The Circle Way Model - Part 1
Karen welcomes Tenneson Woolf to start an all new set of conversations. In part one, Karen and Tenneson start their discussion on The Circle Way Model. Part two will be released on Tuesday, September 29th.
Tenneson Woolf is a facilitator, workshop leader, teacher, blogger, and coach committed to improving the quality of collaboration and imagination needed in groups, teams, and organizations. Woolf's work over 20+ years has been to design and lead meetings in participative formats. From strategic visioning with boards to large conference design to communities just learning to listen again to one another. Woolf has worked significantly with faith communities, educators, and foundation leaders. Woolf holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology (1988) and a masters degree in Organizational Behavior (1993).

Sep 15, 2020 • 30min
Jayne Schooler: How To Parent When You Yourself Were Not Parented Well - Part 2
Karen welcomes Jayne Schooler to conclude their two part conversation on how to parent when you yourself were not parented well.
Agreeing to become foster parents in 1978 set the course for life experiences for Jayne and her husband David that continue today. The Schooler’s served as foster parents from 1978 to 1986 with Warren County (Ohio) Children Services.
Jayne's passion for over 25 years has been the training and education of adoption and foster care professionals and families. She has been been a featured speaker at numerous state, national and international conferences and trains regularly for the Ohio Child Welfare Training Program. She is the author/co-author of seven books in the adoption field, including her newest, Wounded Children, Healing Homes: How Traumatized Children Impact Adoptive and Foster Parents.
Sharing in pastoral ministry with her husband, Dr. David Schooler, they have pastored in Missouri and Ohio for over 35 years. They are both active in international ministries as part of their work with LAMb International in Kyrgyzstan, Poland and Ukraine.

Sep 8, 2020 • 29min
Jayne Schooler: How To Parent When You Yourself Were Not Parented Well - Part 1
Karen welcomes Jayne Schooler for part one of their two part conversation on how to parent when you yourself were not parented well. Part two of the conversation will be released on Tuesday, September 15th.
Agreeing to become foster parents in 1978 set the course for life experiences for Jayne and her husband David that continue today. The Schooler’s served as foster parents from 1978 to 1986 with Warren County (Ohio) Children Services.
Jayne's passion for over 25 years has been the training and education of adoption and foster care professionals and families. She has been been a featured speaker at numerous state, national and international conferences and trains regularly for the Ohio Child Welfare Training Program. She is the author/co-author of seven books in the adoption field, including her newest, Wounded Children, Healing Homes: How Traumatized Children Impact Adoptive and Foster Parents.
Sharing in pastoral ministry with her husband, Dr. David Schooler, they have pastored in Missouri and Ohio for over 35 years. They are both active in international ministries as part of their work with LAMb International in Kyrgyzstan, Poland and Ukraine.

Sep 1, 2020 • 31min
Jim Thomas: Working With Couples Using Attachment Theory - Part 2
Karen welcomes Jim Thomas to the show for part two of their conversation on using attachment theory when working with couples.
Jim obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in psychology from the Ohio State University. He studied alternative approaches to psychotherapy for two years at Boulder College, and earned his Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Colorado at Denver. He is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, EFT Therapist, and an AAMFT, Clinical Fellow and an AAMFT Approved Supervisor as well as an ICEEFT EFT Supervisor.
In 1990, Jim joined the Colorado Institute for Marriage and the Family for Post-Graduate Training in couples and family therapy. His mentors there, Jan Raynak, MD, and Suzanne Pope, Ph.D., taught him the importance of co-creating meaningful experiences for clients in the therapy session, going beyond appearances to the heart of a relationship.
From 1998 to 2002, Jim served as President-Elect, President, and Past-President of the Colorado Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (CAMFT). His peers elected Jim Chair of the Council of Division Presidents for the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). He served on the national board of directors for AAMFT. He presented workshops or facilitated strategic planning for the Alaska, Michigan, South Dakota, and Washington Associations for Marriage and Family Therapy. He also teaches EFT at Denver Family Institute.
Jim left agency work to start the Institute for Change, P.C., and Engaging Trainings. His consulting work includes Shining Mountain High School in Boulder. He has consulted with Aurora Mental Health Center, Mental Health Corporation of Denver, Shiloh House, Community Reach Center, Dignity Program for Girls, Shepherd Valley School, and Emerson Street School.

Aug 25, 2020 • 32min
Jim Thomas: Working With Couples Using Attachment Theory - Part 1
Karen welcomes Jim Thomas to the show for part one of their conversation on using attachment theory when working with couples. Part two of this discussion will be released on Tuesday, September 1.
Jim obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in psychology from the Ohio State University. He studied alternative approaches to psychotherapy for two years at Boulder College, and earned his Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Colorado at Denver. He is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, EFT Therapist, and an AAMFT, Clinical Fellow and an AAMFT Approved Supervisor as well as an ICEEFT EFT Supervisor.
In 1990, Jim joined the Colorado Institute for Marriage and the Family for Post-Graduate Training in couples and family therapy. His mentors there, Jan Raynak, MD, and Suzanne Pope, Ph.D., taught him the importance of co-creating meaningful experiences for clients in the therapy session, going beyond appearances to the heart of a relationship.
From 1998 to 2002, Jim served as President-Elect, President, and Past-President of the Colorado Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (CAMFT). His peers elected Jim Chair of the Council of Division Presidents for the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). He served on the national board of directors for AAMFT. He presented workshops or facilitated strategic planning for the Alaska, Michigan, South Dakota, and Washington Associations for Marriage and Family Therapy. He also teaches EFT at Denver Family Institute.
Jim left agency work to start the Institute for Change, P.C., and Engaging Trainings. His consulting work includes Shining Mountain High School in Boulder. He has consulted with Aurora Mental Health Center, Mental Health Corporation of Denver, Shiloh House, Community Reach Center, Dignity Program for Girls, Shepherd Valley School, and Emerson Street School.

Aug 18, 2020 • 33min
Bethany Saltman: A Mother’s Journey Into the Science of Attachment - Part 2
Karen welcomes author Bethany Saltman to the show as they wrap up their discussion of how Bethany, a mother with no formal training or education in the attachment arena, began down the path of researching attachment theory.
Bethany Saltman is an author, award-winning editor, and researcher. Her work can be seen in magazines like the New Yorker, New York Magazine, Atlantic Monthly, Parents, Town & Country, and many others. Strange Situation: A Mother’s Journey Into the Science of Attachment (Ballantine, April 21, 2020) is her first book. Bethany also serves as a bestselling book partner and in-demand mindfulness mentor, helping writers and entrepreneurs at all stages of the creative process envision and execute their projects, including book proposals, books, content development, big ideas, messaging, and more. In 1992, Bethany graduated from Antioch College where she was one of the architects of the nation’s first Affirmative Consent Policy. She went on to receive her M.F.A in poetry from Brooklyn College in 1994, where she studied with Allen Ginsberg. A longtime Zen student, Bethany is devoted to the fine art and game-changing effects of paying attention. She lives in a small town in the Catskills with her family.

Aug 11, 2020 • 30min
Bethany Saltman: A Mother's Journey Into the Science of Attachment - Part 1
Karen welcomes author Bethany Saltman to the show for part one of their discussion of how Bethany, a mother with no formal training or education in the attachment arena, began down the path of researching attachment theory. Part 2 will be released on Tuesday, August 18th.
Bethany Saltman is an author, award-winning editor, and researcher. Her work can be seen in magazines like the New Yorker, New York Magazine, Atlantic Monthly, Parents, Town & Country, and many others. Strange Situation: A Mother’s Journey Into the Science of Attachment (Ballantine, April 21, 2020) is her first book. Bethany also serves as a bestselling book partner and in-demand mindfulness mentor, helping writers and entrepreneurs at all stages of the creative process envision and execute their projects, including book proposals, books, content development, big ideas, messaging, and more. In 1992, Bethany graduated from Antioch College where she was one of the architects of the nation’s first Affirmative Consent Policy. She went on to receive her M.F.A in poetry from Brooklyn College in 1994, where she studied with Allen Ginsberg. A longtime Zen student, Bethany is devoted to the fine art and game-changing effects of paying attention. She lives in a small town in the Catskills with her family.

Aug 4, 2020 • 32min
Dr. Kirk Austin: Understanding Attachment within The Complex Care & Intervention Model - Part 2
Karen Doyle Buckwalter welcomes Dr. Kirk Austin to the show for the conclusion of their discussion on understanding attachment within the complex care and intervention model.
Dr. Kirk Austin is a Registered Clinical Counsellor in the province of British Columbia, Canada. He is actively involved in training foster parents, psychotherapists, social workers and educators in the effective use of the Complex Care & Intervention (CCI) model. He received his undergraduate degree in Psychology from Trinity Western University before completing his M.A in Counselling Psychology at Liberty University. Prior to earning his doctorate in the field of positive psychology, at the University of South Africa, he completed a Diploma in adult education at Vancouver Community College. He currently works in psychosocial oncology at the BC Cancer Agency, is adjunct faculty at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and has served as Training Director of Complex Trauma Resources since 2012.

Jul 28, 2020 • 25min
Dr. Kirk Austin: Understanding Attachment within The Complex Care & Intervention Model - Part 1
Karen Doyle Buckwalter welcomes Dr. Kirk Austin to the show for part one of their discussion on understanding attachment within the complex care and intervention model. Part two will be released on Tuesday, August 4th.
Dr. Kirk Austin is a Registered Clinical Counsellor in the province of British Columbia, Canada. He is actively involved in training foster parents, psychotherapists, social workers and educators in the effective use of the Complex Care & Intervention (CCI) model. He received his undergraduate degree in Psychology from Trinity Western University before completing his M.A in Counselling Psychology at Liberty University. Prior to earning his doctorate in the field of positive psychology, at the University of South Africa, he completed a Diploma in adult education at Vancouver Community College. He currently works in psychosocial oncology at the BC Cancer Agency, is adjunct faculty at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and has served as Training Director of Complex Trauma Resources since 2012.