Handbook for Treatment of Attachment - Trauma Problems in Children (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "As the fetus must be in the womb to survive, so must a child have a human attachment relationship in which to develop, feel protected,..." (more)
Key Phrases: therapeutic parenting, trauma bond, attachment disturbances, Playback Theatre, Developmental Play Therapy, Dynamic Play Therapy (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Attachment Disorder occurs when a child has difficulty establishing new attachments if old ones are severely disrupted, and it is typically seen in victims of various types of trauma. This text seeks to explain how best to treat these children so that they can love and trust again.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 290 pages
• Publisher: Free Press; 1 edition (September 12, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0029160057
• ISBN-13: 978-0029160053
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #393,454 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

114 of 121 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love and hard work, April 28, 1999

By A Customer

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.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Honest, October 26, 2005

By	social worker - See all my reviews

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.

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Parenting RAD, September 21, 2003

By	Therapist Who Treats Trauma (Western United States) - See all my reviews

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.