Suchergebnisse

Nurturing Attachments combines the experience and wisdom of parents and carers with that of professionals to provide support and practical guidance for foster and adoptive parents looking after children with insecure attachment relationships. It gives an overview of attachment theory and a step-by-step model of parenting which provides the reader with a tried-and-tested framework for developing resilience and emotional growth. Featuring throughout are the stories of Catherine, Zoe, Marcus and Luke, four fictional children in foster care or adoptive homes, who are used to illustrate the ideas a

The editors aim to address both children in care and also adoption issues. They cover topics such as inter-agency issues, assessment, residential care and users' views. The latest developments in neuroscience will be included in the chapter on health issues.

This paper is based on a presentation I gave to the Childhood Trauma Conference in Melbourne, Australia, August 2014.Children traumatised within their biological families are described as children who have experienced complex trauma, also called developmental trauma because of the profound impact it has on their development. These children present a range of challenging behaviours within their foster or adoptive families. They respond less well to traditional behavioural management and benefit more from regulatory and relationship-based parenting. This is parenting that focuses on helping the children to regulate their emotional experience through the emotional connection between parent and child before attention is given to the behaviour. Developmentally traumatised children have a foundation of mistrust of parents and thus experience management of behaviour as signs that they are going to be hurt or rejected again. These children need parents who can connect with the child's experience before, or when appropriate instead of, discipline. This is described here as 'connection before correction'. Correction in this context means helping children to develop pro-social behaviours and to find safe ways to express intense emotional experience. This paper explores the difficulties that the children can experience living in families; how this is expressed through behaviours, and how parents can connect in ways that promote the building of trust and allows successful management of their behaviour.

Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) is a relationship-focused therapy characterised by a strong therapeutic alliance, empathy and unconditional positive regard. It seeks to treat the complex psychological problems of looked after and adopted children as they struggle to develop a greater measure of stable functioning in their homes. It was developed by Dan Hughes based on his extensive clinical experience of working with children and families together and is rooted in a close study of relevant theory. DDP can help children who have been hurt and/or neglected within their families in their early years by supporting them to recover from previous trauma and to experience attachment security and emotional connection within their current family. As with any developing therapy, questions have been raised about its clinical relevance and effects. One such critique recently appeared in an article by Mercer (2014) and this will be used to demonstrate how misunderstandings, misinterpretations and the selective use of case studies can lead to misguided views of this important innovation. This article particularly addresses inaccuracies in accounts of the development of DDP as an intervention for looked after and adoptive children and their families, how DDP is practised around the world and how theory underpins the model. Although a lack of evidence derived from robust evaluations is acknowledged, the authors discuss the evidence base that is currently available and plans that are in place to strengthen this.

A guide to the theory, development, and application of dyadic developmental psychotherapy (DDP) in children's residential care services. From using the PACE model in conversations to balancing emotional regulation with physical safety in secure homes, this book explores the theory and practicalities of supporting children in residential care.