 AttachmentHelping children with trauma and disrupted caregiver relationships in their past to heal and find joy is particularly important to me. The newest brain research is telling us so much about how children experience trauma, and how they adjust developmentally in ways that cause problems for them. For some, giving and receiving love is a terrifying notion, and family relationships put them in a constant state of stress. They have to learn the difference between kind caregivers and “family.” For others, their early relationships have shaped their view of the world and of themselves in ways that even they are not conscious of; but their behaviors tell the story. Learning to love oneself and to attach to a primary caregiver is essential for healthy brain development, which in turn effects learning, attention, emotion regulation, reactions to stress and more. Parents of children with trauma and attachment issues often feel discouraged, frustrated and blamed by family and professionals. It’s not unusual for families facing attachment issues to go through 3-5 therapists with no relief. The type of parenting that works for children with good early care and a strong attachment to their parents can actually make things worse in these children.  Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP)DDP, developed by Daniel Hughes, PhD, is an evidence-based, highly effective treatment for children who have experienced chronic abuse and neglect, trauma, or disrupted caregiver relationships. These children have often been treated unsuccessfully by several clinicians, carry multiple diagnoses, and exhibit disturbing behaviors which put them at risk for placement outside of their homes. Parents of these children are often at their wit’s end, ashamed, exhausted and frustrated by the truly challenging behaviors of their children. While parenting and therapeutic techniques that work with healthy, well-attached children are often ineffective with these children, DDP has proven to produce measurable and stable improvements in symptom reduction. One of the most important goals of DDP is to help the child learn to give and receive love. DDP uses a three-pronged approach. First, parents learn to understand their child’s trauma induced worldview and to redevelop empathy and connection. Second, parents learn and practice attunement and responsive parenting skills at home. Once a child feels safe, normal development and brain function are possible. Third, the child engages with the therapist in the deep work of emotional healing, and begins to open the door to love. Parents who have experienced this powerful approach often express a new sense of hope and a feeling of being understood at last. Using DDP, I teach parents to be co-therapists with me, applying a new style of parenting at home which helps their child to make changes. Then I work directly with the child in therapy to heal the past trauma. Although I like to see children at the start of problems, I believe that attachment and revitalized development is possible at any age. It becomes more complicated with adolescent hormonal and developmental changes, but a fifteen year old may really be functioning as a much younger child emotionally. If so, that’s where we have to start. To learn more about attachment and DDP, please call me or visit: Daniel Hughes' website The Center For Family Development Association for Treatment and Training in the Attachment of Children |
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