This course will provide students with an introduction to the developmental, individual differences, relationship-based (DIR®) model. Lectures, readings, class discussion, and assignments will provide students an opportunity to expand their knowledge about how early experiences impact development, learning, mental health, and family dynamics throughout the lifespan. Historical perspectives will be discussed in describing the model’s development as well as how evidence-based application of the model has been researched. Exploration of the application of DIR® theory will include: 1) functional examples of routine daily activities, 2) the role of developmental capacities in function, 3) the impact of individual differences, and 4) how relationships and affect fuel developmental and learning. Students will be provided with an interactive learning environment, sensitive to principles of adult learning, to become familiarized with the first 9 Functional Emotional Developmental Capacities (FEDCs) and Floortime® strategies. Students will apply DIR® thinking to personal and professional experiences across developmental capacities to understand the interplay between development and individual differences in the context of relationships. Class meets Thursdays at 3:30 pm PDT, beginning on 1/11/24.