Customer Reviews

Handbook for Treatment of Attachment - Trauma Problems in Children

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An honest and practical guide to the problems faced by traumatized kids who may never have had a stable, caring relationship in their lives. Contributors include not only therapists and other professionals, but also adoptive parents and kids with attachment-trauma problems themselves.

Unlike many other authors on this controversial topic, Beverley James, an expert on treating trauma in children, doesn't claim that there are any easy answers or any short-cuts to building relationships and trust. Although she demonstrates her awareness of how huge and exhausting the problems of such children can be, she doesn't scare-monger - she makes it clear that children with attachment-trauma problems are deeply damaged children, not budding serial killers.

It's all too easy for parents faced with incredibly challenging, frustrating and baffling children to opt in despair for violent and entirely unproven treatments like "holding therapy" which claim to effect a "miracle cure" by forcing the child into physical submission. James provides cogent arguments that these only abuse and traumatize the child further, echoing the distorted bonds which often form between a kinapper and victim - or a child and an abusive parent. Instead, she and her fellow contributors offer real alternatives.

This book will be indispensible for professionals, but it will also be an invaluable source of comfort and support for parents. James and her contributors don't offer any "quick fixes" - but they do provide solid, detailed advice, tangible caring, and a real sense of hope. Some of the most moving stories in the book come from people who have grown from deeply deprived and disturbed children into flourishing adults.

An excellent book for those looking to learn more about trauma and its relationship to attachment. James does a wonderful job of laying a foundation of understanding, and expanding it to helpful techniques for both parents and professionals.

This book describes very accurately the effects of early attachment trauma. There is also an excellent chapter on means of diagnosis.

James' most helpful chapter, however is on the treatment process, which notes that an effective treatment must address education, self-identity, relationship building, behavioral control and affect tolerance, all simultaneously.

Having said all that, the book does not adequately discuss the length of treatment required--which is not easy, or quick. It would be nice to know more about time frame for the average successful treatment, and indeed, the success rate with various types of treatment offered.

We'd also have liked more on the physical brain damage that can be caused by early attachment trauma. Which areas of the brain are generally effected? How permanent is the damage? Is it possible for children neurologically affected to develop strategies to overcome their neurological disabilities?

An updated edition, for example, might discuss the medical efficacy and practical long term effect of neuro-biofeedback treatments. If no such studies have been done, Dr. James might perhaps consider one.

Additionally, we missed suggestions on how to handle Committees on Special Education, which don't understand the problem, and frequently prefer to move kids from successful programs to "approved" facilities, just to save money in the short term.

And finally, discussing the ultimate costs of short term "solutions" would be helpful in future editions. A new chapter might explain to professionals (and politicians) that attachment disordered children are medically, psychologically and educationally best served by staying in programs that work for them to allow healing to progress without causing further trauma.

Despite these suggestions, however, we found this book very useful.

I have read a lot of books on foster, adoption, attachment (and i mean a lot!) and this by far has been the most useful to me. The book gives you insights on attachment work needed from a therapists point of view. If you're adopting a child that may have had 2 or 3 or multiple placements before coming to your home for adoption - read this book and make it a priority to learn about bonding and attachment - it's the key to a successful adoption and a healthy loving family life.

Beverly provides helpful methods for parenting and understanding Reactive Attachment disordered children. Her suggestions often work. Parents and therapists who use this approach need to be very patient and understanding and focus on positive interaction with the child. Some Reactive Attachment Disordered children are very difficult and sometimes violent. Means of managing the chronic disturbing behavior and the violence are essential. This book is only partially helpful in this regard. If you have a very difficult child and are feeling desperate for help, this book is not for you. Beverly spends much of her energy in the book panning holding therapy and trying to prove that it promotes trauma bonds which she is never able to prove. Trauma bonds are temporary and tenuous. Further, Beverly is convinced that all holding therapy is abusive which is also a claim she does not prove. Many parents find non-intrusive holding therapy helpful. The book is a good one if you can ignore Beverly's agenda against holding therapies and the `prisoner of war' arguments she promotes.