Circle of Security Parenting™

Training in the Circle of Security

Psychoanalytic Center of the Carolinas is proud to sponsor Circle of Security Parenting
(COSP) Facilitator training and Circle of Security Classroom (COSC) training. These programs
– created and taught by faculty from  Circle of Security International  – are for those who serve
families with young children, providing the theory and the tools to strengthen early attachment
bonds.

Scholarships

PCC is offering a limited number of half scholarships for in-person and online COSP Facilitator trainings, COSC Foundations, and COSC Coaching online trainings. These scholarships are limited to those who serve families through nonprofit organizations in North and South Carolina, as well as PCC members who work with children in any setting. For a scholarship application and for additional information, contact Deb Mugno.

How to train in COSP and COSC

COSC Foundations and Coaches training are offered online only at this time. For more information, visit Circle of Security International.

Supporting Attachment between Caregiver and Child

Based on decades of attachment research, Circle of Security programs are presented in an accessible step-by-step process for use with parents or teachers in groups, home visits, or individual counseling. Secure attachment between child and caregiver is critical to a child’s social and emotional development and future well-being. Research has demonstrated that secure children are more empathic, have greater self-esteem, develop healthier relationships with parents, teachers, and peers, and are better able to self-regulate.

COSP groups for parents are generally offered over an 8-week period and combine discussion, video examples, animated graphics, and reflective education, all designed to strengthen the relationship between parents/caregivers and their young children. If you are a parent or caretaker seeking a COS group for parents offered through community organizations that support parents and children, please contact Deb Mugno.

October 13 through October 16
9:00 am to 4:30 pm ET

Venue:
1881 Event Hall
805 Spartan Blvd.
Spartanburg, SC 29301

Mental Health Providers (Psychology, Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapists, etc)

Family Support Workers (Parenting Education, Outreach Workers, Foster Care Support, etc)

Healthcare Providers (Pediatricians, Nurses, Doulas, OTs, PTs, etc)

Early Care Professionals

Registration is now open for the October in-person training.

To register, go to the Circle of Security Facilitator Training page on the Circle of Security International website. Go to page 2 to find Spartanburg, South Carolina. Create an account following the prompts.

The early-bird rate will end on 13 September, meaning the rate will go from $1,000 to $1,200, and registration will close around the beginning of October.

Training Schedule:
9:00am – 4:30pm each day. Please plan to arrive early on the first day for check-in.

Full attendance each day is required to become a COSP facilitator, receive a Certificate of Attendance, and access online resources, including streaming of the COSP video content.

COSI will utilize their online learning portal to convey important training information. You should find a full, detailed schedule, presenter handouts, important logistical information, and opportunities to introduce yourself and meet others in the room.

You will also complete your course evaluation and assessment and obtain your certificate of completion via the online learning portal.

It is not recommended for attendees to make any travel reservations that are not 100% refundable.

If the training is not able to proceed on the currently scheduled dates, COSI is not responsible for any lost money, cancellation fees, deposits, etc., related to travel expenses.

Please visit their website to learn more about COSP. www.circleofsecurityinternational.com

If you have questions, email registration@circleofsecurityinternational.com.

Susanne Walker Wilson LCSW, LCAS, IMH-E is a trainer, consultant, and fidelity coach for Circle of Security International and offers COS Parenting groups in her local community while supporting policy change work statewide (through the PCC) in the service of elevating secure attachment as an essential piece of parenting education. Susanne’s work as a Fidelity Coach for Circle of Security International includes supporting COSP facilitators in the Czech Republic, the UK, Canada and the US. Deeply grateful for the Psychoanalytic Center of the Carolina’s long-time leadership and commitment to anchor COS across the Carolinas, Susanne is part of a team of professionals who support attachment-informed practices through the grassroots offerings of Circle Together Carolinas. Susanne is a founding member of the NC Infant Mental Health Association through which she trains on and offers Reflective Consultation and Supervision year-round. She also trains on COSP through the Washington-Baltimore Center for Psychoanalysis’ Community Psychoanalysis Certificate program annually. Partnering with parents/caregivers and children as a parenting educator, early intervention specialist and home visitor, therapist, and consultant for 27 years, this varied work has fueled her search to interrupt the intergenerational transmission of trauma and ACEs. Susanne has worked in inner-city Washington DC, in rural Western NC, and in Colombia, South America. In her work as a co-founder and senior trainer for Resources for Resilience, Susanne shares information about attachment, co-regulation and self-regulation as well as somatic wellness tools with leaders in county governments, public schools, early childhood settings, health and behavioral health contexts, faith communities and grassroots neighborhood spaces among others. Susanne maintains a small private practice in Asheville NC. Her own kids are 28 and 25 and continue teaching her about The Circle. Join Susanne and others from diverse professional backgrounds in Spartanburg, SC Oct 13-16, 2026 as we learn how to facilitate this gold standard parenting model while wondering together how it supports upstream public mental health prevention and can also transform your practice with clients of all ages.

All participants will receive a Certificate of Attendance from Circle of Security International (COSI) once they complete a COSI program evaluation.

For Social Workers: Social workers may use this certificate to document up to 24 CE hours in most states of the US. Please check the CE requirements of your state licensing board if you have any questions.

For Counselors: The Psychoanalytic Center of the Carolinas, Circle of Security International, and South Carolina Infant Mental Health Association are cosponsors of this program. This cosponsorship has been approved by NBCC. Psychoanalytic Center of the Carolinas is an NBCC Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6518. The ACEP solely is responsible for this program, including the awarding of NBCC credit.

For Psychologists: The Psychoanalytic Center of the Carolinas is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Psychoanalytic Center of the Carolinas maintains responsibility for this program and its content. 

Please note: Psychologists must attend all instructional hours daily to receive CE credit through the American Psychological Association (APA). The APA does not allow giving partial credit. 

Watch the video to learn more about Circle of Security Parenting

Are you already a COS Facilitator?

Click here to request information on monthly Circles of Support meetings—for trained COSP Facilitators who are leading a COSP group or would like to start a COSP group for parents.

Visit Circle Together for more COS resources and to register with our NC and SC network of COSP and COSC Facilitators.

Circle of Security in Action: Parent and Community Perspectives

These short videos highlight the impact of Circle of Security Parenting (COSP) on families, professionals, and communities. Through personal experiences and real-world applications, viewers can explore how attachment-informed approaches help strengthen relationships, support emotional development, and promote secure connections between children and caregivers. Circle of Security Parenting is grounded in decades of attachment research and helps caregivers better understand and respond to children’s emotional needs.