Attachment Parenting

The pervasive effects of maltreatment on child development can be repaired when parents use effective, empirically validated, and evidence-based methods. This book describes a comprehensive approach to parenting and discusses a variety of issues including attachment, trauma, neuro-psychological impairments, sensory-integration, and treatment approaches as well as the use of media, play, and narratives to create connections. The book will be useful to child welfare and residential treatment professionals as well as professors teaching family-therapy, child-welfare, and child-treatment courses.

Attachment Parenting describes a comprehensive approach to parenting children who have a history of neglect, abuse, orphanage care, or other experiences that may interfere with the normal development of attachment between parent and child. Grounded in attachment theory, Attachment Parenting gives parents, therapists, educators, and child-welfare and residential-treatment professionals the tools and skills necessary to help these children. With an approach rooted in dyadic developmental psychotherapy, which is an evidence-based, effective, and empirically validated treatment for complex trauma and disorders of attachment, Arthur Becker-Weidman and Deborah Shell provide practical and immediately usable approaches and methods to help children develop a healthier and more secure attachment. Attachment Parenting covers a wide range of topics, from describing the basic principles of this approach and how to select a therapist to chapters on concrete logistics, such as detailed suggestions for organizing the child's room, dealing with schools' concerns, and problem-solving. Chapters on sensory integration, art therapy for parents, narratives, and Theraplay give parents specific therapeutic activities that can be done at home to improve the quality of the child's attachment with the parent. And chapters on neuropsychological issues, mindfulness, and parent's use of self will also help parents directly. The book includes two chapters by parents discussing what worked for them, providing inspiration to parents and demonstrating that there is hope. Finally, the book ends with a comprehensive chapter on resources for parents and a summary of various professional standards regarding attachment, treatment, and parenting.

Chapter 1 Preface
Chapter 2 Chapter One: Theory Basis for Attachment Facilitating Parenting
Chapter 3 Chapter Two: Beginnings
Chapter 4 Chapter Three: The Details
Chapter 5 Chapter Four: Why Children Misbehave
Chapter 6 Chapter Five: Theraplay for Parents
Chapter 7 Chapter Six: Neuropsychology
Chapter 8 Chapter Seven: A Sensory Integration Perspective
Chapter 9 Chapter Eight: Art Therapy for Parents
Chapter 10 Chapter Nine: Story Telling—How to Use Stories to Help Your Child
Chapter 11 Chapter Ten: Mindfulness
Chapter 12 Chapter Eleven: A Parent's Story—A Child with Sexually Reactive Behavior
Chapter 13 Chapter Twelve: A Parent's Story—Parenting Before, During, and After Treatment
Chapter 14 Chapter Thirteen: Resources and Approaches for Parents
Chapter 15 Chapter Fourteen: End Notes
Chapter 16 References