Bert Powell started his clinical work as an outpatient family therapist in a community mental health center in 1974. For the next 15 years, he provided service to a wide variety of high-risk families, supervised a project on a family therapy approach for the treatment of child abuse and neglect, became a designated Child Mental Health Specialist for the State of Washington, and received extensive training in Structural Family Therapy through the Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic. In 1991, he graduated from the Masterson Institute of New York City with a certification in psychoanalytic psychotherapy.

As one of the originators of the Circle of Security™ Project, Bert has been exploring the clinical applications of attachment theory for individual, couple, and family therapy as well as for early intervention. In addition to his private practice, he provides consultation to Spokane’s Public School’s Behavioral Intervention Program regarding the clinical utilization of attachment theory with at-risk youth.

Bert is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Graduate School of Counseling Psychology at Gonzaga University and an International Advisor to the Editorial Board of the Journal of Attachment and Human Development.