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| Additional Information on Attachment Disorders |
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Diagnostic information |
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The official mental health diagnosis for the majority of the children and teens we treat is Reactive Attachment Disorder (DSM IV 313.89).
Some patients may have other diagnoses as well, such as:
Conduct disorder
Oppositional defiant disorder
Attention deficit hyperactive disorder
Post traumatic stress disorder
Mood disorders, e.g., depression, bi-polar, anxiety
Assessment tools In addition to the family packet forms, reports from other professionals, and client and family interviews, we may use some or all of the following tests:
Parenting Stress Index (PSI)
Randolph Attachment Disorder Questionnaire (RADQ)
Child Dissociative Checklist (CDC)
Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children (TSCC)
Kinetic family drawing
Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL-SIQ) |
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| Assumptions and beliefs about our work |
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Children and families Attachment can occur between a child and a primary caregiver(s) in a biological family as well as a variety of alternative family constellations such as foster or adoptive families.
The bulk of the work of healing attachment difficulties occurs at home, between the parents and child or teen.
Families dealing with attachment difficulties need understanding, support, and complete, unbiased information from a variety of resources about their unique challenges.
Treatment Appropriate attachment treatment and parenting can relieve the effects of a break or strain in primary attachment.
Crucial to treatment progress is the parents' commitment to keeping the child in their family.
Attachment therapy is hard work for everyone involved.
A therapeutic atmosphere must convey safety, protection, hope, empathy, and comfort to all family members.
Good work relies on both child and family having a developmentally appropriate understanding of the therapeutic process and its goals.
Attachment therapy requires a family systems approach since the heart of this disorder is the child's relationship with her primary caregiver(s).
Parents may have problems that need to be understood and addressed in order to help their child resolve attachment and other problems.
Parents and professionals need to educate the systems that impact a child's life and advocate for adequate funding.
Safety Our touchstone principle " … do no harm." |
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Referrals to community providers Sometimes we refer to other professionals to enhance our work with a child and her family. We may refer for:
Sensory Integration Therapy
Psychiatric evaluation and medication prescription
Specialized therapy for predatory, sexually aggressive children and youth (SAY Therapy)
Neuropsychological Evaluation
Consultation with colleagues We use consultation to enhance our work and provide the best services possible to our clients.
We consult monthly with a child psychiatrist on difficult cases.
Peer consultation with other professionals at ATS is always available.
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