Circle of Security Parenting
Building Connection, Confidence, & Understanding
Parenting comes with plenty of advice, but understanding what your child needs can still feel overwhelming. Circle of Security Parenting offers a thoughtful, practical way to strengthen your relationship, make sense of your child’s emotions, and feel more confident in how you respond.
At Birch Therapy, we offer welcoming groups where parents and caregivers can learn, reflect, and connect with others navigating similar challenges. You do not have to get every moment right to build a secure, loving relationship.
What is Circle of Security Parenting
Circle of Security Parenting (COSP) is an evidence-informed, relationship-based program grounded in decades of attachment research. It helps caregivers understand two important needs children move between: the freedom to explore and the reassurance of having someone to return to for comfort and support.
Through guided reflection and group discussion, you will learn to recognize these needs, understand your own responses, and approach everyday parenting moments with greater awareness and compassion.
Why We Believe in this Approach
Our therapists have spent decades studying parenting tools, curricula, and practices. We embrace Circle of Security because it brings that knowledge into everyday relationships in a way that feels understandable, compassionate, and useful. Five members of our team are trained facilitators in this model.
Understanding Needs
A child’s behavior does not always make their needs clear. Circle of Security encourages curiosity about what may be underneath a difficult moment, helping caregivers respond with greater understanding.
Lasting Connection
We value an approach that strengthens the relationship children rely on as they grow. Feeling supported in both exploration and distress helps create a foundation for emotional development and connection.
Room for Repair
Children do not need perfect parents. This approach makes room for mistakes and helps caregivers recognize opportunities to reconnect, rebuild trust, and try again.
Caregiver Support
Parenting can bring up strong feelings and familiar patterns. Circle of Security offers space to understand your own reactions with compassion and consider new ways to respond.
What You Will Explore
Our groups help parents and caregivers develop a deeper understanding of:
What children may need when they seek independence, closeness, reassurance, or comfort.
How to support big feelings while providing steady guidance and boundaries.
How personal experiences and stress can influence parenting responses.
Ways to reconnect after misunderstandings or difficult interactions.
How to build on the strengths already present in your relationship.
Our Parenting Groups
Birch Therapy offers nine-week Circle of Security Parenting groups multiple times throughout the year, with in-person and virtual options.
The group setting provides opportunities to learn alongside other caregivers, share everyday struggles, and reflect in a supportive environment. We emphasize “good enough” parenting, recognizing that growth happens through ongoing connection, reflection, and repair.
We can also bring COSP courses to churches, community groups, agencies, and other family-serving organizations.
Who Can Benefit
Personalized support for students and adults ages 11+.
Circle of Security Parenting welcomes parents and caregivers who want to deepen their connection with the children in their lives. You do not need to be facing a particular challenge to participate.
The program is especially relevant to families with young children, while its relationship principles can also offer helpful insight for caregivers of older children, teens, and young adults. Participating with a partner or another caregiver can help you develop a shared understanding of your child’s needs.
Circle of Security Classroom
Supporting Connection in Early Learning
Children build important relationships beyond the home. Teachers and early childhood care providers can offer a dependable source of comfort, encouragement, and support as children learn and explore.
Circle of Security Classroom (COSC) brings attachment-informed principles into early care and preschool settings. It helps educators consider the relationship needs beneath children’s behavior and reflect on how their own responses can support connection.
Birch Therapy’s classroom offering includes nine weekly, 90-minute sessions in a supportive, collaborative setting.
Why Early Relationships Matter
Early childhood is an important period for emotional, social, and learning development. Dependable relationships with caring adults help children feel supported as they explore, manage challenges, and participate in classroom life.
We believe in COSC because it supports the adults doing this important work, too. Educators need opportunities to reflect, ask questions, and build confidence in responding to children’s emotional needs.
What Educators Will Explore
Understanding behavior through children’s relationship and emotional needs.
Offering reassurance while encouraging exploration and independence.
Responding to strong emotions with warmth and clear guidance.
Recognizing personal reactions during challenging classroom moments.
Building more intentional relationships with children and families.
Connecting Home & Classroom
Circle of Security Parenting and Circle of Security Classroom can be offered independently or together.
When parents and educators learn these approaches, they gain a shared language for understanding children’s needs. This can support more collaborative conversations and greater consistency in how adults offer comfort, encouragement, and guidance across home and school.
We work with families and organizations in Raleigh, North Raleigh, Durham, and Apex to explore options that fit their communities.
A Free Introduction For Your Organization
Interested in learning more before arranging a group? Birch Therapy offers a free, 45-minute introductory workshop about Circle of Security Parenting, Circle of Security Classroom, and attachment principles.
This workshop gives your organization an opportunity to explore the approach, ask questions, and discuss how a course might support your families or staff.
Getting Started
Connect With Us
Complete our contact or registration form to ask about an upcoming parenting group or a course for your organization.
Create a Plan
We will discuss your goals, group availability, and the format that best fits your family, staff, or community.
Learn Together
Join a supportive learning experience focused on understanding children’s needs and strengthening the relationships around them.
Additional Support For Your Family
Birch Therapy offers child and teen therapy, play therapy, trauma therapy, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), parent coaching, and neurodivergent-affirming therapy. We also provide psychological testing for concerns related to ADHD, autism, mood, anxiety, and more.
Our additional services include children’s social skills groups, Girl C.O.D.E for grades 3–5, community workshops, and clinical supervision. Trauma-focused approaches include Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and EMDR.
Build Stronger Connections with Circle of Security
Whether you are a parent seeking greater understanding or an educator supporting young children, we would be glad to help you explore the next step.
Contact Birch Therapy to learn about upcoming parenting groups, classroom offerings, or a free introductory workshop for your organization.