Rooted Leadership: An Integrated Attachment Series for Professional Growth

What is Rooted Leadership?


Rooted Leadership is a 4 credit graduate-level continuing education offering through Pacific Lutheran University. The program blends Integrated Attachment Theory, emotional intelligence, and organizational psychology to strengthen leadership, communication, and team dynamics.

We partner with professionals ready to lead with emotional clarity, self-awareness, and authentic confidence, both at work and in life. With decades of expertise in emotional intelligence, leadership, and integrated attachment theory, we guide purpose-driven leaders to uncover their core needs, set empowering boundaries, and build secure, resilient relationships.

By blending neuroscience, organizational development, and attachment-informed coaching, we transform emotional intelligence from a concept into a powerful, actionable skill set. Participants move beyond surface-level performance to lead with genuine influence rooted in who they truly are and what they deeply need to thrive.

Who should enroll?

This series is designed for professionals who want to deepen their self-awareness and leadership presence, including:

  • Educators, social workers, and wellness practitioners
  • Executive coaches and organizational development consultants
  • Inclusion and HR professionals
  • Higher education and student affairs leaders
  • Mental health providers in leadership roles
  • Clergy and spiritual care providers

ROOTED LEADERSHIP REGISTRATION
Learning Objectives:

By the end of the program, participants will be able to:

  • Identify their attachment styles and their impact on leadership and workplace relationships
  • Strengthen emotional regulation and reduce reactivity under pressure
  • Apply practical tools for boundary-setting, needs-based communication, and conflict resolution
  • Challenge and reframe limiting beliefs and patterns that hinder professional growth
  • Cultivate inclusive, resilient, and authentic leadership practices
  • Translate learning into practical solutions for real-world challenges

REQUEST MORE INFORMATION
  • Photo of Shirline Wilson, smiling and wearing glasses.
    Rooted Leadership Instructors
  • Shirline Wilson is an accomplished executive leader, coalition builder, and trusted advisor with a proven track record of helping leaders and organizations drive meaningful, equity-centered change. As a current Executive Director, she builds strategic partnerships between corporations, community organizations, and public agencies to advance measurable workplace inclusion and business goals. With over a decade in senior leadership roles across corporate, nonprofit, and public sectors, Shirline has successfully guided complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives from vision to implementation, aligning diverse interests to achieve shared outcomes. She has led large-scale change efforts in organizations such as Microsoft, Intellectual Ventures, and Cypress Consulting, honing her expertise in operational strategy, organizational transformation, and relationship-building at all levels. Shirline’s work integrates emotional intelligence, leadership theory, and attachment-informed coaching to help leaders identify their core needs, set boundaries, strengthen relational confidence, and lead with authenticity. Her unique ability to navigate both corporate and mission-driven landscapes makes her a sought-after partner for leaders ready to create lasting impact. She holds a Master’s in Education Policy from the University of Washington and a Bachelor’s in Organizational Development from Antioch University.
    Rooted Leadership Instructors
  • Picture of Lauren Van Koughnett, EdD
    Rooted Leadership Instructors
  • Dr. Lauren Van Koughnett is a strategic leader, program architect, and skilled facilitator dedicated to developing leaders who can navigate complexity with clarity, empathy, and purpose. With more than 15 years of experience in organizational change, higher education leadership, and cross-sector partnerships, she specializes in designing and delivering leadership development programs that strengthen emotional intelligence, decision-making, improve workplace culture, and increase retention. Over the past two decades, Lauren has collaborated with universities, state agencies, non-profits, and corporate executives to create high-impact learning experiences grounded in emotional intelligence, authentic leadership, and integrated attachment theory. She has led statewide programs serving 190,000+ participants, managed multimillion-dollar budgets, and guided organizational transformations that align human-centered leadership with measurable business outcomes. Lauren blends neuroscience, organizational development, and attachment-informed coaching to help leaders rewire unconscious patterns, regulate their nervous system, and lead with greater confidence and connection. Her approach bridges analytical rigor with practical application, equipping leaders to reduce burnout, foster cohesion, and sustain performance. She earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Washington, where her research explored the intersection of leadership effectiveness, emotional intelligence, and organizational health.
    Rooted Leadership Instructors

Session Dates

In-Person Classes

Classes will be held at PLU:
1/10/26, 9-5 Pacific
1/24/26, 9-noon
2/14/26, 9-noon
3/14/26, 9-noon
4/11/26, 9-noon
5/9/26, 9-noon
6/13/26, 9-noon

Price

Tuition is $2000 and includes 4 Continuing Education academic credits.

Registration

Once the registration form is filled out, an email will be sent to verify acceptance into the program. Tuition bills will be emailed to students by January 5, 2026.

When professionals understand their own attachment styles and how those styles play out at work, they build more inclusive, psychologically safe, and high-performing environments. Organizations that have embraced this work report stronger leadership pipelines, improved team resilience, and better decision-making under stress. These aren’t soft skills, they’re strategic competencies.

A tree with the roots showing. The words Rooted Leadership is written across the logo

LEARN MORE AT AN INFO SESSIONS

11/15 & 12/13 – from 9-10am

SIGN UP FOR AN INFO SESSION

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ROOTED LEADERSHIP REGISTRATION

FAQ

What is Rooted Leadership?
Rooted Leadership: An Integrated Attachment Series for Professional Growth is a 5-credit graduate-level continuing education program offered through Pacific Lutheran University. The program blends Integrated Attachment Theory, emotional intelligence, and organizational psychology to strengthen leadership, communication, and team dynamics.

We partner with mid-to-senior-level professionals ready to lead with emotional clarity, self-awareness, and authentic confidence, both at work and in life. With decades of expertise in emotional intelligence, leadership, and integrated attachment theory, we guide purpose-driven leaders to uncover their core needs, set empowering boundaries, and build secure, resilient relationships.

By blending neuroscience, organizational development, and attachment-informed coaching, we transform emotional intelligence from a concept into a powerful, actionable skill set. Participants move beyond surface-level performance to lead with genuine influence rooted in who they truly are and what they deeply need to thrive.

Who should enroll?
This series is designed for professionals who want to deepen their self-awareness and leadership presence, including:

  • Educators, social workers, and wellness practitioners
  • Executive coaches and organizational development consultants
  • Inclusion and HR professionals
  • Higher education and student affairs leaders
  • Mental health providers in leadership roles
  • Clergy and spiritual care providers

Who is this program not for?
Rooted Leadership is not a therapeutic service. It is best suited for professionals seeking growth in leadership, communication, and workplace impact. This program is not recommended for individuals in acute personal crisis or those seeking treatment for unresolved trauma, mental health conditions, or clinical diagnoses.

When should professional counseling be considered instead?
If you are experiencing significant mental health challenges (such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, or ongoing personal distress) or feel that exploring attachment patterns is triggering in a way that disrupts daily life, we recommend seeking support from a licensed therapist or counselor. Rooted Leadership is designed for professional growth, not clinical practice. 

Do I need a background in psychology or leadership to join?
No prior background is required. The program is accessible for beginners and meaningful for seasoned leaders. However, it does require deep introspection, self-awareness, and a growth mindset.

What will I learn?
By the end of the program, participants will be able to:

  • Identify their attachment styles and their impact on leadership and workplace relationships
  • Strengthen emotional regulation and reduce reactivity under pressure
  • Apply practical tools for boundary-setting, needs-based communication, and conflict resolution
  • Rewire limiting beliefs and behavior loops that impact professional growth
  • Cultivate inclusive, resilient, and authentic leadership practices
  • Complete a capstone project or leadership case study applying tools to real-world challenges

How is the program structured?

  • Schedule: 7 sessions from January–June 2026 (1 Saturday per month)
  • Format: Begins with a full-day in-person retreat, followed by monthly 3-hour sessions (9 a.m.–Noon) with practical assignments in between
  • Learning methods: Experiential practices, reflection, small group work, guest speakers, and panel discussions

What is the time commitment outside of class sessions?
Expect about 2–3 hours per month for readings, reflections, and applied practice. Most assignments are designed to integrate with your workplace challenges.

How many credits is the program? Will I receive a certificate?
Yes. Participants earn 4 graduate-level continuing education credits through Pacific Lutheran University and receive a certificate of completion.

How interactive is the program?
Very interactive. You’ll engage in short mini-lectures, small group discussions, experiential practices, case studies, and a capstone project.

Who teaches the program?

  • Shirline Wilson, M.Ed. Accomplished executive leader and coalition builder with experience across corporate, nonprofit, and public sectors, integrating emotional intelligence, leadership theory, and attachment-informed coaching.
  • Lauren Van Koughnett, Ed.D.  Strategic leader and program architect with 15+ years of experience in leadership development, organizational change, and emotional intelligence research and application.

What does it cost?

  • Standard tuition: $2,000 per participant for the full program

What makes this program unique?

  • One of the only graduate-level programs in the region integrating attachment theory and leadership development
  • Designed for pairs or small groups as well as individuals
  • Cohort-based, immersive experience blending research and practical tools
  • Focused on building human-centered leaders who foster trust, resilience, and inclusion

How do I register?
Registration is managed through Pacific Lutheran University’s Partnerships & Professional Development office.

Are there opportunities to learn more before registering?
Yes! Join one of the upcoming virtual information sessions:

  • October 11, 2025, 9–10 a.m.
  • November 15, 2025, 9–10 a.m.
  • December 12, 2025, 9–10 a.m.

For Employers

How will this program benefit my organization?
Participants return with sharpened communication and leadership skills, greater self-awareness, and strategies to foster trust and inclusion. When professionals grow together across roles and lived experiences, the result is stronger retention, improved performance, and healthier workplace culture rooted in empathy, connection, and resilience.

Can program content be applied directly to workplace challenges?
Yes. Participants are encouraged to bring real scenarios from their work, and the capstone project allows them to apply learning to an organizational need.

Is this program research-based?
Yes. The curriculum draws from Integrated Attachment Theory, emotional intelligence models, and organizational psychology. These frameworks are grounded in decades of peer-reviewed research. The primary models include:

  • Integrated Attachment Theory (Thais Gibson)
  • Attachment Theory (John Bowlby & Mary Ainsworth)
  • Emotional Intelligence Models (Peter Salovey, John D. Mayer, Daniel Goleman)
  • Organizational Psychology & Culture (Edgar Schein)

What kind of return on investment (ROI) can we expect?
Organizations can expect reduced burnout and turnover, stronger leadership pipelines, and more effective collaboration across teams.

How flexible is the program schedule for working professionals?
Sessions meet one Saturday per month from January–June 2026, beginning with a full-day retreat. Assignments are designed to align with real workplace challenges, minimizing disruption to the workweek.

Can multiple employees from the same organization enroll?
Yes. Group rates are available for 5 or more participants, and shared enrollment often amplifies impact by giving teams a common language and set of tools.

Are there options for customized support for our organization?
Yes. While the program itself is cohort-based, instructors can explore customized workshops or follow-up sessions for organizations interested in deeper integration.

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