What do you think?
Rate this book
Affect Regulation Theory: A Clinical Model
The rich, complex theory of affect regulation boiled down into a clinically useful guide. Affect regulation theory―the science of how humans regulate their emotions―is at the root of all psychotherapies. Drawing on attachment, developmental trauma, implicit processes, and neurobiology, major theorists from Allan Schore to Daniel Stern have argued how and why regulated affect is key to our optimal functioning. This book translates the intricacies of the theory into a cogent clinical synthesis.
With clarity and practicality, Hill decodes the massive body of contemporary research on affect regulation, offering a comprehensible and ready-to-implement model for conducting affect regulation therapy.
The book is organized around the four domains of a clinical model: (1) a theory of bodymind; (2) a theory of optimal development of affect regulation in secure attachment relationships; (3) a theory of pathogenesis, in which disordered affect regulation originates in relational trauma and insecure attachment relationships; and (4) a theory of therapeutic actions targeted to repair the affect regulating systems.
The key themes of Hill’s affect-focused approach include: how and why different patterns of affect regulation develop; how regulatory patterns are transmitted from caretakers to the infants; what adaptive and maladaptive regulatory patterns look like neurobiologically, psychologically, and relationally; how deficits in affect regulation manifest as psychiatric symptoms and personality disorders; and ultimately, the means by which regulatory deficits can be repaired. Specific chapters explore such subjects as self states, mentalization, classical and modern attachment theory, relational trauma (and its manifestations in chronic dissociation, personality disorders, and pervasive dissociated shame), supporting self-development in therapy, patient–therapist attunement, implicit and explicit therapeutic actions, and many more.
With clarity and practicality, Hill decodes the massive body of contemporary research on affect regulation, offering a comprehensible and ready-to-implement model for conducting affect regulation therapy.
The book is organized around the four domains of a clinical model: (1) a theory of bodymind; (2) a theory of optimal development of affect regulation in secure attachment relationships; (3) a theory of pathogenesis, in which disordered affect regulation originates in relational trauma and insecure attachment relationships; and (4) a theory of therapeutic actions targeted to repair the affect regulating systems.
The key themes of Hill’s affect-focused approach include: how and why different patterns of affect regulation develop; how regulatory patterns are transmitted from caretakers to the infants; what adaptive and maladaptive regulatory patterns look like neurobiologically, psychologically, and relationally; how deficits in affect regulation manifest as psychiatric symptoms and personality disorders; and ultimately, the means by which regulatory deficits can be repaired. Specific chapters explore such subjects as self states, mentalization, classical and modern attachment theory, relational trauma (and its manifestations in chronic dissociation, personality disorders, and pervasive dissociated shame), supporting self-development in therapy, patient–therapist attunement, implicit and explicit therapeutic actions, and many more.
- GenresPsychology
320 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2015
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 27, 2022
I devoured this book.
In short, author Daniel Hill attempts (and succeeds) in translating the essential elements and concepts of interpersonal neurobiology (IPNB), specifically the theoretical work of Allen Schore, into a compact and clinically useful form.
While it may (or may not) fall short of a fully realized therapeutic modality. It certainly functions as a minimally sufficient foundation. And if nothing else, it is a MASSIVE firmware upgrade to every other therapeutic model.
Hill assembles Scores Modern Attachment Theory (an updated, neurologically advanced buildout of Bowlby and Ainsworth (and Later Mary Main’s) foundational work on Attachment Theory. Hill also draws Peter Foanagy’s Metallization Theory. And ground the whole model in clincial neuroscience. With just enough psychodynamic theory laced in to hold the whole thing together.
I am so excited by this work.
It is revitalizing psychotherapy for me.
It’s so useful, and interesting and at heart, hopeful and good.
I love Allan Schore, Danieal Siegel, and Louis Cozolino (the three founders of INPB). It has been so cool to watch their work develop. It has been so personally inspiring for me. I became interested in psychology, neuroscience, and psychotherapy via Danieal Siegel. I have been binging on Schore and Cozolino lately.
This book is the perfect capstone to all of their work.
Plus.
As mentioned, it’s useful (and fuckin interesting) 🧐
5/5 stars ⭐️
A desperately strung out on IPNB lately.
#DopelessHopefiend
I’m shifting gears over to Fonagy.
See you on the next one ☝️
🤓
In short, author Daniel Hill attempts (and succeeds) in translating the essential elements and concepts of interpersonal neurobiology (IPNB), specifically the theoretical work of Allen Schore, into a compact and clinically useful form.
While it may (or may not) fall short of a fully realized therapeutic modality. It certainly functions as a minimally sufficient foundation. And if nothing else, it is a MASSIVE firmware upgrade to every other therapeutic model.
Hill assembles Scores Modern Attachment Theory (an updated, neurologically advanced buildout of Bowlby and Ainsworth (and Later Mary Main’s) foundational work on Attachment Theory. Hill also draws Peter Foanagy’s Metallization Theory. And ground the whole model in clincial neuroscience. With just enough psychodynamic theory laced in to hold the whole thing together.
I am so excited by this work.
It is revitalizing psychotherapy for me.
It’s so useful, and interesting and at heart, hopeful and good.
I love Allan Schore, Danieal Siegel, and Louis Cozolino (the three founders of INPB). It has been so cool to watch their work develop. It has been so personally inspiring for me. I became interested in psychology, neuroscience, and psychotherapy via Danieal Siegel. I have been binging on Schore and Cozolino lately.
This book is the perfect capstone to all of their work.
Plus.
As mentioned, it’s useful (and fuckin interesting) 🧐
5/5 stars ⭐️
A desperately strung out on IPNB lately.
#DopelessHopefiend
I’m shifting gears over to Fonagy.
See you on the next one ☝️
🤓
October 5, 2024
ESSENTIAL reading for mental health professionals.
I've said it before, but this book really should have the reputation of The Body Keeps Score - because it achieves what many want out of Van Der Kolk's book, but better, I'd say!
If that isn't the best endorsement, I don't know what is.
Don't be put off by the dry title. Although academic, this work is accessible and not too difficult to read. It's definitely more academic that your average pop-psychology bestseller, but any reader with an interest in relational trauma or emotion regulation willing to get into some more science-y non-fiction would love it.
In Affect Regulation Theory, Daniel Hill clearly and efficiently integrates existing research and understandings of the neuroscience of the nervous system (think fight/flight/freeze) with attachment research (think insecure attachment styles) and contemporary understandings of trauma symptomology including dissociation and the pattern of symptoms often labelled Borderline Personality Disorder.
Hill ties together the more recent advances in psychological research by Allan Schore, Peter Fonagy, and Judith Herman with attachment researchers and theorists like Dan Siegel, Main, Ainsworth and Bowlby. It has a warm endorsement from Pat Ogden, founder of sensorimotor therapy.
The book is structured well and starts with probably the best explanation of the neuroscience of the autonomic nervous system and limbic system I've read, then summarises how these parts of the nervous system develop with reference to early attachment experiences. Hill then moves on to using these interpersonal neurobiology frameworks to describe common pathologies and symptoms in relational trauma, summarises mentalisation theory, and at the end provides some practical examples of rupture and repair in adult therapy (ie how the insecure attachment underlying relational trauma symptoms can be repaired in the therapeutic relationship).
In this way Affect Regulation Theory provides a kind of capstone or grand integration of cutting edge psychological approaches to date, tying together broad swathes of research that are often less accessible and more academically dense or scientific in structure and language.
If you are going to read one interpersonal neurobiology book, make it this one.
I've said it before, but this book really should have the reputation of The Body Keeps Score - because it achieves what many want out of Van Der Kolk's book, but better, I'd say!
If that isn't the best endorsement, I don't know what is.
Don't be put off by the dry title. Although academic, this work is accessible and not too difficult to read. It's definitely more academic that your average pop-psychology bestseller, but any reader with an interest in relational trauma or emotion regulation willing to get into some more science-y non-fiction would love it.
In Affect Regulation Theory, Daniel Hill clearly and efficiently integrates existing research and understandings of the neuroscience of the nervous system (think fight/flight/freeze) with attachment research (think insecure attachment styles) and contemporary understandings of trauma symptomology including dissociation and the pattern of symptoms often labelled Borderline Personality Disorder.
Hill ties together the more recent advances in psychological research by Allan Schore, Peter Fonagy, and Judith Herman with attachment researchers and theorists like Dan Siegel, Main, Ainsworth and Bowlby. It has a warm endorsement from Pat Ogden, founder of sensorimotor therapy.
The book is structured well and starts with probably the best explanation of the neuroscience of the autonomic nervous system and limbic system I've read, then summarises how these parts of the nervous system develop with reference to early attachment experiences. Hill then moves on to using these interpersonal neurobiology frameworks to describe common pathologies and symptoms in relational trauma, summarises mentalisation theory, and at the end provides some practical examples of rupture and repair in adult therapy (ie how the insecure attachment underlying relational trauma symptoms can be repaired in the therapeutic relationship).
In this way Affect Regulation Theory provides a kind of capstone or grand integration of cutting edge psychological approaches to date, tying together broad swathes of research that are often less accessible and more academically dense or scientific in structure and language.
If you are going to read one interpersonal neurobiology book, make it this one.
October 24, 2016
I finished reading this book a few weeks ago, and I have begun to read it again, now up to page 7, because I keep getting distracted by all the other wonderful books in my collection. But this one has been very helpful to me in refining my psychotherapy practice. The role of the right orbitofrontal cortex is hugely important in understanding how culture meets biology; and how socialised thinking meets raw feelings. Essential reading for counsellors and psychotherapists!
December 18, 2024
this was going incredibly well until the last chapter (not a critism of the author!! i think even that was great it just became less relevant/accessible to me). neuobiology! many excellent references to Iain McGilchrist! the content was brilliant and made me feel quite happy to be a cogs major (then also happy that i am Not a psych major)
October 20, 2024
Fabulous book. Written with clarity, tremendous sympathy, and pace, Daniel Hill has performed a service to us all. Truly he satisfies the challenge of Horace Mann's dictum, “Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity.”
Built on the insight of Allan Schore's theorisings regarding modern attachment theory and affect regulation, Hill carefully and humanely covers the ways in which dysfunctional attachment leaves its marks on the developing self, interfering with people's capacity to live in peace with themselves and others.
As a teacher, I was struck constantly by the applicability of all that was covered to the quotidian experience of school, where, as any sensitive practitioner knows, many of the students will be bearing the scars of relational misattunement and (as Mark Epstein would have it) everyday trauma. Generally speaking their affective dysregulation is not as acutely experienced as those of therapeutic patients, but its chronic nature may be as prolonged and its effects, if not so deeply felt or debilitating, still haunt their time in the classroom. In this context, the role of the teachers is, indeed, by default either therapeutic or antagonistic, and placing this feature of "being a teacher" at the forefront of practice is the most credible means we have at our disposal, if we are to re-enchant the world and give cause for hope.
Six stars. Exceptional.
Built on the insight of Allan Schore's theorisings regarding modern attachment theory and affect regulation, Hill carefully and humanely covers the ways in which dysfunctional attachment leaves its marks on the developing self, interfering with people's capacity to live in peace with themselves and others.
As a teacher, I was struck constantly by the applicability of all that was covered to the quotidian experience of school, where, as any sensitive practitioner knows, many of the students will be bearing the scars of relational misattunement and (as Mark Epstein would have it) everyday trauma. Generally speaking their affective dysregulation is not as acutely experienced as those of therapeutic patients, but its chronic nature may be as prolonged and its effects, if not so deeply felt or debilitating, still haunt their time in the classroom. In this context, the role of the teachers is, indeed, by default either therapeutic or antagonistic, and placing this feature of "being a teacher" at the forefront of practice is the most credible means we have at our disposal, if we are to re-enchant the world and give cause for hope.
Six stars. Exceptional.
July 27, 2025
A condensed version of Schore’s research on attachment
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews