Attachment Theory in Clinical Work with Children Bridging the Gap between Research and Practice

by Oppenheim, David; Goldsmith, Douglas F.

• ISBN13: 9781593854485
• ISBN10: 159385448X
• eBook ISBN(s): 9781606237496
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2007-03-08
• Publisher: The Guilford Press

Summary

Attachment research has tremendous potential for helping clinicians understand what happens when parent–child bonds are disrupted, and what can be done to help. Yet there remains a large gap between theory and practice in this area. This book reviews what is known about attachment and translates it into practical guidelines for therapeutic work. Leading scientist-practitioners present innovative strategies for assessing and intervening in parent–child relationship problems; helping young children recover from maltreatment or trauma; and promoting healthy development in adoptive and foster families. Detailed case material in every chapter illustrates the applications of research-based concepts and tools in real-world clinical practice.

Author Biography

David Oppenheim, PhD, is Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Haifa, Israel, and Associate Editor of Infant Mental Health Journal. He has been involved in attachment research for more than 20 years, focusing on the importance of secure, emotionally open parent-child relations for children's development and mental health. Dr. Oppenheim has also studied how secure attachments are fostered by parental insightfulness into the child's inner world, and has applied attachment concepts and methods in research on clinical populations. He is actively involved in lecturing and writing on the clinical applications of attachment.
 
Douglas F. Goldsmith, PhD, is a practicing psychologist and Executive Director of The Children’s Center, in Salt Lake City, Utah, which specializes in the treatment of families with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. His work focuses on the assessment and treatment of attachment problems, and he has published several articles regarding the application of attachment theory to clinical practice. Dr. Goldsmith holds adjunct faculty appointments in the Departments of Educational Psychology, Psychology, and Psychiatry at the University of Utah.

Table of Contents

Clinical Use of Attachment Research Assessments

Constructing a Relationship Formulation for Mother and Child: Clinical Application of the Working Model of the Child Interview

Keeping the Inner World of the Child in Mind: Using the Insightfulness Assessment with Mothers in a Therapeutic Preschool

Intervening with Maltreated Children and Their Adoptive Families: Identifying Attachment-Facilitative Behaviors

The Role of Caregiver Commitment in Foster Care: Insights from the This Is My Baby Interview

Parental Resolution of the Child's Diagnosis and the Parent-Child Relationship: Insights from the Reaction to Diagnosis Interview

Attachment Theory and Psychotherapy

Attachment and Trauma: An Integrated Approach to Treating Young Children Exposed to Family Violence

The Circle of Security Project: A Case Study--"It Hurts to Give That Which You Did Not Receive,"Bert Powell

Challenging Children's Negative Internal Working Models: Utilizing Attachment-Based Treatment Strategies in a Therapeutic Preschool

Disorganized Mother, Disorganized Child: The Mentalization of Affective Dysregulation and Therapeutic Change

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