Handbook for Treatment of Attachment-Trauma Problems in Children

Rating:
Summary: Love and hard work
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Parenting RAD
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Parenting RAD
Review: 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.