1. Connecting the tots: helping parents with undeveloped attachment connect with their children
Jennifer Tabor, LCSW
2013 STATEWIDE CONFERENCE
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2. CONTACT INFORMATION
JENNIFER TABOR, LCSW OFFICE ADDRESS: 5206 W ELM ST, STE MCHENRY, IL PHONE: (815) , (815) FAX: (815)
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3. WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES
PARTICIPANTS WILL DEVELOP AN UNDERSTANDING OF ATTACHMENT THEORY AS IT APPLIES TO PARENTS (BOTH ADULT AND ADOLESCENT).
PARTICIPANTS WILL LEARN WHAT CONSTITUTES A HEALTHY ATTACHMENT RELATIONSHIP.
PARTICIPANTS WILL LEARN 5 SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES AND TOOLS THAT THEY CAN USE WITH THEIR CLIENTS (PARENTS WITH UNDEVELOPED ATTACHMENT) TO IMPROVE THEIR CLIENTS’ ATTACHMENT RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR CHILD(REN).

4. OUTLINE OF WORKSHOP INTRODUCTION HOW ATTACHMENT DEVELOPS
FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE ATTACHMENT RELATIONSHIP
HOW TO TREAT UNDEVELOPED ATTACHMENT IN THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP
INTERVENTIONS THAT PROMOTE ATTACHMENT

5. HOW ATTACHMENT DEVELOPS
Attachment is a learned relationship of trust that is built little by little over time.
Attachment is not an inborn instinct.
We are born NEEDING attachment, not knowing HOW to form an attachment relationship.
We can learn HOW to form an attachment relationship.
Attachment patterns can be multigenerational.

6. PARENTS WITH “UNDEVELOPED ATTACHMENTS”
Parents who experienced insecure attachment patterns with their own parents/caregivers as children.
These parents are capable of forming secure attachment relationships with their children, they just do not posses the knowledge and skills to be able to do so at this time.
These parents CAN “break the cycle” by:

7. PARENTS WITH “UNDEVELOPED ATTACHMENTS”
Facing the things that were painful.
Acknowledging that those things still influence them, especially at times of stress.
Intentionally chosing the things they want to pass on to their child(ren) and the things they want to leave behind – and talking about those things with someone who can help them monitor how it is going between the parent and the child.
Finding resources to help them live out their choices, including good information about child development and positive parenting, as well as a good social support system.
** THIS BECOMES PART OF THE WORK WE DO WITH THE PARENT IN THE TREATMENT PROCESS. **

8. ** THIS ENTIRE PROCESS IS AN INTERVENTION ITSELF **
TREATMENT PROCESS
RECEIVE REFERRAL – USUALLY THROUGH DCFS
GATHER AND REVIEW BACKGROUND INFORMATION, SOCIAL HISTORY, ETC. FROM CASEWORKER OR REFERRAL SOURCE
MEET INDIVIDUALLY WITH PARENTS FOR AN INTAKE SESSION
ASSESSMENT OF THE ATTACHMENT RELATIONSHIP (ESTABLISH A BASELINE)
DEVELOP GOALS AND A TREATMENT PLAN
INTERVENTIONS THAT PROMOTE ATTACHMENT
REVISIT INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS WITH PARENTS THROUGHOUT TREATMENT PROCESS
** THIS ENTIRE PROCESS IS AN INTERVENTION ITSELF **

9. TREATMENT PROCESS RECEIVE REFERRAL – USUALLY THROUGH DCFS
GATHER AND REVIEW BACKGROUND INFORMATION, SOCIAL HISTORY, ETC. FROM CASEWORKER OR REFERRAL SOURCE

10. TREATMENT PROCESS
MEET INDIVIDUALLY WITH PARENT(S) FOR AN INTAKE SESSION
This session is part of the assessment and part of the individual therapy with the parent.
It is important to establish a good working relationship with the parent.
We will use the “therapeutic relationship” to help heal the parent’s childhood wounds and empower them.
The therapist will act in the role of a parent and mentor to some of the parents with their own insecure attachment patterns.

11. TREATMENT PROCESS
ASSESSMENT OF THE ATTACHMENT RELATIONSHIP (ESTABLISH A BASELINE)

12. TREATMENT PROCESS
DEVELOP GOALS AND A TREATMENT PLAN

13. TREATMENT PROCESS
INTERVENTIONS THAT PROMOTE ATTACHMENT

14. TREATMENT PROCESS
REVISIT INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS WITH PARENTS THROUGHOUT TREATMENT PROCESS

15. INTERVENTIONS
(THIS LIST IS NOT EXHAUSTIVE…THERE ARE MANY MORE WAYS TO IMPROVE ATTACHMENTS!)