Attachment focused therapy is often helpful for families with foster and adopted children. Many foster and adopted children have experienced prior trauma and can exhibit attachment insecurity stemming from those experiences.
Three primary treatment models are used, each focusing on creating an active positive connection between the parent and child, increasing trust, and changed view of self as worthy and lovable.
Theraplay:
Utilized mainly for young children, we create connection and trust through the use of games mimicking early childhood experiences.
This is an experiential therapy that’s helpful as children work through developmental gaps and learn to regulate emotions.
Dyadic Developmental Therapy (DDP):
Through conversation, we create an atmosphere of connection and trust, and we help the child/teen process all aspects of their lives present and past that may be disrupting their current functioning. The child learns to experience himself in a new light and grow in self-understanding.
Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI):
The elements of TBRI – building connection between parent and child, creating an optimal physical environment, and handling discipline in an attachment focused way, are used throughout treatment, regardless of the age of the child.