Partnering with Caregivers: An Integration of the DIR® and FAN Frameworks

Strengthening relationships with parents and caregivers is a core component of DIR® practitioners’ professional capacities. The Partnering with Caregivers training offers practitioners a framework for attuning to parents and caregivers on their DIR journey. Practitioners also use the FAN to deepen their reflective thinking; which is essential when centering DIR's parent-mediated intervention and coaching model.

Fee: $695

Start date & time

January 20, 2026 | 4:00 pm eastern time

Length of course

(7) 2-hour online sessions
class: 1/20; 2/3; 2/17 and 3/3
mentoring: 3/17; 3/31 and 4/14 OR 3/24; 4/7 and 4/21

Next steps:

Step 1  register and pay for the course

Who this course is for

DIR® clinicians of all disciplines and educators who want to integrate FAN into their DIR® practice

Certificate

Certificate of Completion
Step 2 access the course
Step 3
 review instructions
Step 4 attend sessions

What Participants Are Saying

“FAN supported my DIR work by giving me a framework that integrated essential elements of DIR. This framework also increased my effectiveness as a mentor and allowed those I was mentoring to grow in a more powerful and deeply rooted way. FAN really allows us to support individual differences of those we are supporting to shape our support in a way that is unique to each individual.” 

-- Course Participant

Start Date & Time

January 20, 2026 | 4:00 pm eastern time

Length of Course

(7) 2-hour online sessions
class: 1/20; 2/3; 2/17 and 3/3
mentoring: 3/17; 3/31 and 4/14 OR 3/24; 4/7 and 4/21

Who this course is for

DIR® clinicians of all disciplines and educators who want to integrate FAN into their DIR® practice

Certificate

Certificate of Completion

Next Steps:

Step 1 register and pay for the course
Step 2 access the course
Step 3 review instructions
Step 4 attend sessions

Course Overview

The Developmental, Individual-Difference, Relationship-based (DIR) Model—co-created by Serena Wieder, PhD, and the late Stanley Greenspan, MD—has always placed parents and other caregivers at the heart of a child’s development. These primary relationships are the foundation upon which growth and learning are built.Facilitating Attuned Interactions (FAN), developed by Linda Gilkerson, PhD, of the Erikson Institute, is a conceptual framework and training model that strengthens communication and relational attunement for those who support families. Used widely across the United States and internationally, FAN helps practitioners feel more connected, responsive, and emotionally present when working with parents and caregivers.

Integrating FAN into DIR practice amplifies a practitioner’s ability to support families in meaningful ways. It deepens parents’ and caregivers’ understanding of both their child and themselves, builds their confidence to navigate uncertainty, and strengthens the parent–child relationship—all while maintaining the developmental and relationship-based focus central to DIR.

Through FAN, DIR practitioners learn to attune to the parent’s or caregiver’s experience of the DIR process while holding their concerns about the child’s development, challenging behaviors, and other issues at the center of their work. This integration enhances practitioners’ capacity to respond flexibly in the moment, remain emotionally in tune, and strengthen the relational connection with families.

FAN also supports practitioner reflection—encouraging awareness of the meaning behind a child’s behavior, fostering compassion for oneself, and promoting self-regulation. As a result, practitioners feel more grounded and effective, and parents and caregivers become more attuned to their children’s cues, knowing how to respond to their needs in each moment.

DIR + FAN works in tandem with your existing practice—enhancing not only what you do, but how you do it.

The DIR+FAN training originated in a special initiative developed through a partnership between Profectum Clinical Director Serena Wieder and FAN creator Linda Gilkerson of the Erikson Institute, along with Profectum’s Rebecca Berg, Socorro Cornejo, and Kristin McNally.

Topics

Facilitating Attuned Interactions (FAN) for DIR Practitioners

  • FAN and Attunement
  • ARC of Engagement
  • Mindful Self-regulation
  • Empathic Inquiry
  • Collaborative Exploration
  • Capacity Building
  • Integration

Course Objectives

Powerful outcomes of DIR+FAN Course include:
  • Developing parents’ understanding of child and self
  • Building parents’ confidence and capacity to manage uncertainty
  • Strengthening parent-child relationships

Course Format

The DIR+FAN Training Course is a live online instructor-led course.
  • 7 live online 2-hour sessions
  • 4 training sessions
  • 3 mentoring sessions
  • All sessions must be attended
  • FAN Training Modules
  • DIR+FAN Reflective Learning Tools

Course Instructors

Rebecca Berg, OTR/L, IMH-E
Socorro Cornejo, SLP

Criteria to Take the Course

Must hold a Level 1 Profectum certificate or above (or equivalent). 

Frequently Asked Questions

This course is for

DIR® clinicians of all disciplines and educators who want to integrate FAN into their DIR® practice

Attendance and requirements for completion

All live online sessions must be attended; they will NOT be recorded. Participants will be asked to review materials prior to beginning of sessions including completing all FAN Training Modules and DIR+FAN Reflective Learning Tools.

Payment options

Payment in full is required.

Payment, withdrawal and refund policy

If you submit payment and withdraw from this course at least 10 working days (Mon-Fri) BEFORE the start date, you will receive a refund minus the non-refundable deposit and a cancellation fee of $25. If requests to withdraw are received after this, no refund is given and you are responsible for full payment of the course.

Requests to withdraw must be sent via email to training@profectum.org.

In the event that a course is canceled, you will be notified immediately via email and a credit will be issued toward a rescheduled course or the entire submitted fee will be refunded without further liability on the part of the organizer.

Contact training@profectum.org if you have questions.

Cancelation policy

We strive to accommodate start times and international time zones for our participants and, therefore, reserve the right to adjust course start dates and times as needed. A minimum number of participants are required to run the course. We reserve the right to cancel or postpone a scheduled course if the required number of participants is not achieved.

In the event that a course is canceled, you will be notified immediately via email and a credit will be issued toward a rescheduled course or the entire submitted fee will be refunded without further liability on the part of the organizer.

If you have questions, contact training@profectum.org.

Special accommodations

If you require ADA accommodations or have a special needs request, please email training@profectum.org at least two weeks before the program start date so arrangements can be made.

Technology requirements

Profectum uses video streaming and video conferencing as our standard technology tools. The course relies on you watching webcasts on your own and joining live online class discussions using Zoom.

A computer with a monitor, keyboard, and a mouse or a laptop. (Please note that the course is not fully supported on mobile devices such as phones and tablets.)

Speakers, either built into your computer or external (plugged into your computer).

Camera, either built into your computer or external (plugged into your computer).

An internet connection, either wired or wireless, DSL or better.

The course is supported on the most recent versions of Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox, as well as Internet Explorer 11 and Edge. Please note that the course is incompatible with Internet Explorer 7, 8, 9, and 10. We recommend using only a single tab on your browser.

The Zoom application.

A PDF viewer, such as Adobe.

A printer or access to a printer (to print the resources in the library, if desired).