Attachment and Adoption Todd Nichols Family Attachment and Counseling Center of Minnesota

Outline Importance of attachment Attachment problems Attachment repair

Enhances Optimal Development A child is most likely to reach her full potential if she experiences consistent, predictable, enriched, and stimulating interactions in a context of attentive and nurturing relationships. Bruce Perry, MD, PhD childtraumaacademy.org/Documents/McCainLecture_2005.pdf

Important Points About Attachment Consistency and emotional availability from attachment figures are critical Child develops expectations about the dependability of attachment figures to provide comfort, support and nurture in times of need Attachment experiences inform child’s developing model of relationships, self, and how the world works

Development of Attachment Orientation/limited discrimination (0-2 mos) Discrimination/limited preference (2-7 mos) Hierarchy of preferred caregivers (7-12 mos) Secure base (12-20 mos) Goal corrected partnership (20-36 mos) Charles Zeanah, MD

Attachment and Development Emotional Cognitive Social Neurological

Model and Meaning Attachment Relationships Meaning

Model and Meaning Life Events Trauma Attachment Relationships Meaning

Model and Meaning Development Life Events Trauma Attachment Relationships Meaning

What Can Contribute to Attachment Problems? Abuse Neglect Emotionally unavailable caregiving Institutionalization (orphanages) Other

Attachment Classifications Secure attachment  Sensitive care - felt security - confident and connected Insecure attachment  Anxious Resistant Erratic care - preoccupied, hesitant - anxious, dependent  Anxious Avoidant Unresponsive care - distant, flat - aggressive, lack empathy  Disorganized Threat from caregiver - confused, anxious - dissociation Martha Farrell Erickson, PhD

Disorders of Attachment  Secure base distortions  Disorders of non attachment  Reactive Attachment Disorder

Attachment Repair For a child with attachment damage adoption is a tremendous intervention, but love is not always enough. Child bring expectations, fears, behavioral patterns, and coping capacities learned from previous caregiving relationships into new adoptive relationship. Even safe and sensitive caregiving may generate feelings of anxiety and fear.

Role of Parents Must be sensitive and therapeutic Experts in their child Primary agents of change

Two Important Factors for Attachment Repair Attunement Regulation

Attunement The ability of a parent to accurately read the emotional state and motivations of his or her child and appropriately meet the child's needs.

Regulation A person's ability to calm-to regulate body, emotions, and states of mind. Parents help children to regulate.

Ways to Help Regulate Consistency  Routines, Rituals, and Daily Care Discipline Support managing environments outside the home  School Movement Touch Medication Nutrition

Tools to Attune and Regulate Learning and utilizing therapeutic tools  Stories: Family Attachment Narrative Therapy  Play: Attachment play & reflective techniques  Sometimes, professional help is needed

Narrative Types Claiming Developmental Trauma Successful Child

Development Meaning Attachment Life Events Development Successful Child Claiming Trauma Narrative Types Inner Working Model Spheres Shifting Model with Narratives

Importance of Play It is the vehicle in which a child communicates his feelings, thoughts and beliefs Assists the child in mentalizing (the ability to regulate, think, and envision) which is the primary function in the development of self or personality Serves the function of regulation and mastery

Additional Resources Publications (available at website)  Parenting with Stories: Creating a foundation of attachment for parenting your child  Connecting with Kids through Stories: Using narratives to facilitate attachment in adopted children DVD-First Steps for Strengthening Adoptive Families: Tools and techniques for meeting the needs of your adopted child Speaking and training Website: