ATTACHMENT AND ADOPTION - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

ATTACHMENT AND ADOPTION

Presented By

Elsebeth Green, LCSW, RPT-S

and

Collette Dawson-Loveless, LCSW, RPTSlide2

AttachmentThe reciprocal dance between the caregiver and the child that develops over time and becomes a template for future relationships.Slide3

Arousal/Relaxation CycleDr. Vera Fahlberg, Separation and Attachment, 1979

Need

s

Arousal

Need Met (By caregiver)

Relaxation

safety

Secure Attachment

&Trust

belonging

esteem

PROXIMITYSlide4
Slide5

Regulation of Nervous System

Brain = Central Nervous System

and

entire body

Particularly the nerve bundles surrounding the heart and gut

Optimal brain

activity = optimal

bodily

arousal

Healthy, Calm Brain = Healthy Physiological FunctioningSlide6

The Neurobiology of AttachmentAttachment dynamics impact the following areas of brain development:Neurochemical activitySize/development of brain tissue

Emotional RegulationRegulation of the nervous systemConcepts about self/others/the world

MemorySlide7

Positive Effects of Secure AttachmentThe development of

languageAbility to assume the view point of another

The

development of trust

and

positive

world view

The development of self-

esteem

Anxiety reduction and sense

of securityLove of physical touch and intimacyLearning through social interactionsAbility to play and share mutual enjoyment

Healthy, brief shame as vehicle for socializationSelf-reliance and reliance on othersOrganized meaningful emotion

IntersubjectivitySlide8
Primary

IntersubjectivityThe infant and parents’ exploration of and discovery of each other and self in relation to the other is two-fold: 1. Eyes, voice, gestures and touch of father and mother to the infant (I’m special, interesting, lovable to my parent)

2. Eyes, voice, gestures and touch of infant to parent (I’m a good parent)

Trevarthen

, 2001,

Trevarthen

& Aiken 2001 Slide9

Secondary Intersubjectivity An infant’s discovery of the features of the world (people, objects and events) through the impact of the world on themselves and their parents: 1. meaning

2. template for relating to others and the world 3. person-to-person-to-object relationships are established

Slide10
MindsightSlide11

When things go wrongSlide12
ATTACHMENT CYCLE - Anxious

- - A

DISTRUSTSlide13
ATTACHMENT CYCLE- Avoidant

DISTRUSTSlide14
ATTACHMENT CYCLE - Disorganized

DISTRUSTSlide15

STYLES OF ATTACHMENTSECURE

–

SENSE OF SAFETY, BELONGING AND ESTEEM 55%

ANXIOUS

-

FEAR OF REJECTION 15%

AVOIDANT

–

FEAR OF BEING TRAPPED 20%DISORGANIZED – DEEPLY WOUNDED WITH NO DISCERNABLE PATTERN OF RELATING 5%Slide16

DSMV Diagnosis we commonly use:309.81 -Post-traumatic Stress Disorder –recurrent, involuntary, and intrusive distressing memories of exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence. Intense or prolonged psychological distress at exposure to internal or external cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event.

995.54 Child Abuse – Confirmed995.53 Child Sexual Abuse - Confirmed

995.52 Child Neglect – Confirmed

995.51 Child Psychological Abuse, Confirmed

V61.20 Parent-child relational problem

313.89 Reactive Attachment Disorder

-Consistent pattern of withdrawn behavior, not seeking, not accepting comfort; minimal social engagement

313.89

Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder - overly familiar verbal and physical behavior with unfamiliar adult with diminished or absent checking back with main caregiverSlide17

Traits of Severely Attachment Disordered Children

Angry and controlling

Mean and hurtful

Affectionate/charming when it suits them

Lie and steal

Create conflict between others to divide them

See others as objects to be manipulated

“Play” with behavior plans to get what they want

People seem to mean nothing to them except as vehicles to get needs met; servants; do not miss them or feel “love”Hurt animals and younger childrenPut up huge resistance to limit setting or consequencesSelf soothe in various inappropriate waysSlide18
Discovering your own style . . .

What is your own attachment stylePASTBackgroundRelationshipsSeparationDiscipline

Fear/ThreatLoss

Emotional Communication

Safe Harbor (Secure Base)

Launching Pad (Safe Haven)

PRESENT

FUTURESlide19

ESTABLISHING PACE Daniel HughesPlayfulnessA

cceptanceCuriosityE

mpathySlide20

Principals of TreatmentEye contact, voice tone, touch, movement and gestures are only to communicate safety, acceptance, curiosity, playfulness and empathy and are only reciprocal – never coerced.Opportunities for enjoyment and laughter, play and fun, are provided daily and unconditionally.

Decisions are made for the purpose of providing success not failures.Successes become the basis for the development of age-appropriate skills.Slide21

The child’s symptoms or problems are accepted and contained. The child is shown how these simply reflect his history. They are often associated with shame which must be reduced by the adult’s response to the behavior.The child’s resistance to parenting and treatment interventions is responded to with acceptance, curiosity and empathy.Skills are developed in a patient manner, accepting and celebrating “baby-steps” as well as developmental plateaus.

The adult’s emotional self-regulation abilities must serve as a model for the child.The child needs to be able to make sense of his/her history and current functioning. The understood reasons are not excuses, but rather they are realities necessary to understand the developing self and current

struggles.

The adults must constantly strive to have empathy for the child and to never forget that, given his/her history, s/he is doing the best s/he can.Slide22

11. The child’s avoidance and controlling behaviors are survival skills developed under conditions of overwhelming trauma. They will decrease as a sense of safety increases, and while they may need to be addressed, this is not done with anger, withdrawal of love, or shame.Slide23
Experience with States

Feel Better with Just one Word YouTubeSlide24
Resource List

Building the Bonds of Attachment, Daniel HughesBrainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain, Daniel J. SiegelThe Whole-Brain Child, Daniel J. SiegelLove Sense: The Revolutionary New Science of Romantic Relationships, Sue JohnsonBrain-Based Parenting, Daniel Hughes and Jonathan BaylinParenting the Hurt Child, Keck and

KupeckyThe Neurobiology of We, Daniel J. SiegelMindsight, Daniel J. SiegelRemoved

,

http

://vimeo.com/

73172036

Feel

Better with Just One Word, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0E82oV_BeLo