Circle of Security Group (COS-G) is a parenting intervention for caregivers of a child between 0 and 5 years coping with adversity. It is delivered by a single practitioner to groups of five to six parents/carers through 20 weekly 75-minute sessions. During these sessions, parents are guided to reflect on their own experiences of parenting and learn strategies for responding sensitively to the needs of their child.
The information above is as offered/supported by the intervention provider.
0 to 5 years old
Group
Circle of Security Group (COS-G) offers group-based support to at-risk parents with a toddler or preschooler. It is intended for primary caregivers, this includes but is not limited to parents (mothers or fathers), foster carers, and grandparents.
COS-G is delivered by a single practitioner to groups of between five to six parents/carers through 20 75-minute sessions.
COS-G is based on attachment theory and aims at helping parents reflect on their own attachment experiences and thus reduce their negative mental attributions to the child’s normal attachment-seeking behaviours. Parents are then expected to be in a better position to provide a secure base which fosters attachment security.
At each session, core concepts are reinforced through discussions aimed at helping parents consider:
The sessions make use of an individualised treatment plan developed for each parent–child dyad on the basis of their interaction during Ainsworth’s Strange Situation (or the MacArthur Preschool Strange Situation) and the primary caregiver’s responses to the Circle of Security Interview (COSI).
These assessments are used to identify a ‘linchpin’ issue (i.e. a set of problematic attachment behaviours), and strategies are developed to help parents reflect on their behaviours through the use of video-feedback guidance used in the 20 group sessions.
The first two sessions provide parents with an overview of attachment theory and children’s basic attachment and exploration needs.
The following 18 sessions are devoted to each of the six parent–child dyads, with each caregiver being the focus of three sessions. These sessions make use of videotaped segments of each parent interacting individually with their child, which are used to facilitate dialogue between the parents.
The COS-G content is designed as an individualised treatment plan and is delivered through ‘chapters’ which begin with a 15-minute video clip that is viewed and discussed in the group during each session. The clips are of child–parent interactions, as well as of previous COS-G participants reflecting on what they learned about their own parenting from COS-G. The video indicates where to pause, what to discuss, and how to help parents consider their own parenting, as does the intervention manual.
0 to 5 years (11 to 58 months)
Parents living in disadvantaged communities
Disclaimer: The information in this section is as offered/supported by the intervention provider.
Science-based assumption
Attachment security lays the foundation for children to develop positive expectations of themselves and others.
Attachment security is thought to support children’s emotional development in a way that reduces the risk of future mental health problems.
Science-based assumption
Sensitive parent–child interactions increase the likelihood of children developing secure attachment relationships
Sensitive parenting is supported by their ability to form positive representations of their child.
Science-based assumption
A parent’s attachment history can negatively impact their representations of their child
Negative representations of the child increase the risk of an insecure attachment.
Intervention
Parents are supported to reflect on their attachment history
Parents are supported to form positive representations of themselves and their child
Parents are coached to respond sensitively to their child’s needs.
Short-term
Parents develop positive representations of their child
Parents are less likely to have negative representations of their child
Parents become more sensitive and attuned to their child’s needs.
Medium-term
Improved parent–infant interaction
Reduced risk of the child developing an insecure attachment.
Long-term
Children develop positive expectations of themselves and others
Children are at less risk of future mental health problems
Children are at less risk of child maltreatment.
Parents with a toddler or preschooler (child between 11 and 58 months) who is at risk of an insecure attachment. Risk factors include economic disadvantage, parental mental health problems, and parental substance misuse problems.
Circle of Security Group is delivered in 20 weekly sessions of 75 minutes to groups of five to six caregivers after an initial 90-minute assessment to develop an individualised treatment plan.
Practitioners use video segments to facilitate reflective discussions about caregivers’ attachment experiences – more specifically:
COS-G practitioners typically have a master’s qualification or higher in a helping profession, such as social work, psychology, or family therapy.
Practitioners complete a four-day intervention training. Booster training of practitioners is not required.
Supervision is not required, but opt-in supervision arrangements (known as ‘fidelity coaching’) are available. In supervision sessions, practitioners reflect on their experiences leading the sessions.
Intervention fidelity is maintained through the following processes:
Contact person: Neil Boris
Organisation: Circle of Security International, Inc.
Email address: neil@circleofsecurityinternational.com
Websites: www.circleofsecurityinternational.com
*Please note that this information may not be up to date. In this case, please visit the listed intervention website for up to date contact details.
COS-G’s most rigorous evidence comes from a pre- and post-intervention study conducted in the United States that is consistent with Foundations’ Level 2 evidence strength criteria. It has preliminary evidence of improving a child outcome, but we cannot be confident that the intervention caused the improvement.
This study observed statistically significant improvements in children’s attachment security as observed by the Strange Situation at post-intervention.
| Identified in search | 2 |
| Studies reviewed | 1 |
| Meeting the L2 threshold | 1 |
| Meeting the L3 threshold | 0 |
| Contributing to the L4 threshold | 0 |
| Ineligible | 1 |
| Study design | Pre–post study |
| Country | United States |
| Sample characteristics | 75 parents (primary caregivers) of toddlers and preschoolers were recruited from Head Start services based on their availability to attend a group intervention, their regular engagement with the service and if the family were considered within ‘middle third level of functioning’ by Head Start staff |
| Race, ethnicities, and nationalities | 86% of participants assessed at post-intervention were White |
| Population risk factors |
|
| Timing | Pre- and post-intervention |
| Child outcomes |
|
| Other outcomes | None |
| Study rating | 2 |
| Citations | Hoffman, K. T. et al. (2006) Changing toddlers’ and preschoolers’ attachment classifications: The circle of security intervention. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 74 (6), 1017–1026. |
The following studies were identified for this intervention but did not count towards the intervention’s overall evidence rating. An intervention receives the same rating as its most robust study or studies.
Cassidy, J. Ziv, Y., Stupica, B., Sherman, L. J., Butler, H., Karfgin, A., Cooper, G., Hoffman, K. T. & Powell, B. (2010) Enhancing attachment security in the infants of women in a jail-diversion program. Attachment & Human Development. 12 (4), 333–353.
Note on provider involvement: This provider has agreed to Foundations’ terms of reference (or the Early Intervention Foundation's terms of reference), and the assessment has been conducted and published with the full cooperation of the intervention provider.
Rated 1: Set up and delivery is low cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of less than £100.
Rated 2: Set up and delivery is medium-low cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of £100–£499.
Rated 3: Set up and delivery is medium cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of £500–£999.
Rated 4: Set up and delivery is medium-high cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of £1,000–£2,000.
Rating 5: Set up and delivery is high cost. Equivalent to an estimated unit cost of more than £2,000.
Set up and delivery cost is not applicable, not available, or has not been calculated.
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Supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing child maltreatment: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Enhancing school achievement & employment: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing crime, violence and antisocial behaviour: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing substance abuse: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing risky sexual behaviour & teen pregnancy: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing obesity and promoting healthy physical development: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Rated 2: Has preliminary evidence of improving a child outcome from a quantitative impact study, but there is not yet evidence of causal impact.
Rated 2+: Meets the level 2 rating and the best available evidence is based on a study which is more rigorous than a level 2 standard but does not meet the level 3 standard.
Rated 3: Has evidence of a short-term positive impact from at least one rigorous study.
Rated 3+: Meets the level 3 rating and has evidence from other studies with a comparison group at level 2 or higher.
Rated 4: Has evidence of a long-term positive impact through at least two rigorous studies.
Rated 4+: Meets the level 4 rating and has at least a third study contributing to the Level 4 rating, with at least one of the studies conducted independently of the intervention provider.
Rating has a *: The evidence base includes mixed findings i.e., studies suggesting positive impact alongside studies, which on balance, indicate no effect or negative impact.
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