Frequently
Asked Questions About the Institute
How
do we recognize attachment disorders?
Children
who are well attached make us feel comfortable around them. They express
their emotions authentically and interact with us in a reciprocal manner.
This is not so with attachment difficulties. Instead these children exhibit
some or all of the following characteristics:
• History
of abandonment, neglect, abuse, and/or multiple placements
• Indiscriminately seeks affection and/or comfort from strangers
(i.e., pseudo-attachments)
• Anti-social behaviors (e.g., lying, stealing, manipulating, destructiveness,
cruelty, fire-setting, aggression)
• Lack of authenticity, spontaneity, flexibility, and empathy
• Lack of physical affection and closeness and/or inappropriate
clinginess
• Poor eye contact
• Problems with learning, attending, self-regulating, self-monitoring
• Abnormal eating and elimination patterns (e.g., wetting, soiling,
hoarding food)
How
does the Attachment Institute of New England assess attachment disorders?
Identifying symptoms of attachment problems is only one part of a diagnosis.
A diagnosis should only be made by a licensed professional trained in
working with children and families and familiar with adoption and trauma
issues.
An assessment
at the Attachment Institute includes a structured interview of the child’s
performance in various situations and contexts and a review of the birth
and adoptive or foster families history. Well-researched measures including
the Conners’ Rating Scale, Achenbach’s Child Behavioral Checklist,
and the Randolph Attachment Disorder Questionnaire are also incorporated.
Communication with former and current therapists is encouraged.
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do we treat attachment disorders?
•
Treatment takes place in our outpatient setting following an assessment,
during which the family demonstrates a satisfactory level of commitment
to the child.
• Families are provided with a list of reading, materials and other
resources and are encouraged to utilize these throughout the course of
treatment.
• Attachment Therapy is an integrative treatment that utilizes elements
of multiple therapies including cognitive-behavioral, object relations,
psychodynamic, family therapies and biofeedback.
• Treatment typically requires 10 to 14 two-hour sessions
• Sessions are usually scheduled one day a week or every day for
two weeks.
• Families learn to develop emotional attunement to address the
child’s affective dysregulation.
• In most cases two therapists are assigned to each family.
• Therapists already involved with the family are strongly encouraged
to participate.
• Primary caretakers are expected to attend each session. The child
is frequently held on the parents’ lap to promote physical intimacy
which is integral to the formation of a secure attachment.
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a specialized
form of treatment for trauma, may also be used.
• Specialized educational and support groups are offered to primary
caretakers.
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How
much does treatment cost?
The fee for
each session is $400.00. Some financial assistance may be available.
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Where is the
Institute located?
The Institute
is located at 21 Cedar Street, Worcester, MA. Driving directions can be
obtained if you click here. If you would like more information about
the Institute, please call 508-799-2663 (BOND).
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