About the workshop
Children enter families yearning for safety and closeness. Their foster and adoptive families have a vision of meeting these needs in a nurturing manner. But, what if children are afraid of this closeness after they have been moved around, traumatized, neglected, and/or neurologically insulted by prenatal drug exposure? Or, what will happen to parents’ visions when children do not respond to parents’ nurturance? How do professionals intervene when children’s trauma or grief triggers parental reactions of disappointment, grief, or anger?
This day will be an in-depth look at evidence-based methods of intervening on behalf of children and the parents who are forming attachments with them. Ample time will be spent giving attendees nurturing, gentle, and developmentally appropriate attachment-producing techniques.
We will look at major conclusions from theory/research in attachment by, Alan Sroufe, Mary Main, Mary Dozier, Megan Gunnar, Allan Schore, Jay Belsky, and Daniel Siegel. The brain research that describes attachment’s role as the vehicle for downloading a stress regulation system will be thoroughly discussed.
The day will answer common questions about attachment including:
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What is attachment? What isn’t it?
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How can parents stimulate secure attachment after children have lost a parental attachment or been through trauma or neglect?
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How can parents position themselves for a close relationship with their children? How will professionals assist in this?
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Which children are most at-risk for attachment difficulties?
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Which parents are most successful in forming attachments with their children?
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How long does it take to form attachments after placement?
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How can professionals help families when parents have their own issues with attachment?
This day addresses these questions, describing styles in attachment and belief systems that accompany each style of attachment. We will also discuss ways to move to a healthier attachment style.
This workshop describes the neural imbedding and transmission of a stress regulation system that occurs between parent and child through the vehicle of attachment. Reactive attachment disorder is defined and demystified. Focus will be given to common attachment challenges and nurturing techniques for working with these challenges.
This workshop is required for those enrolled in the Certificate Program in Adoption and Foster Care Therapy.
