Since it's founding in 1997, the CYC-Net discussion group has been asked thousands of questions. These questions often generate many replies from people in all spheres of the Child and Youth Care profession and contain personal experiences, viewpoints, as well as recommended resources.
Below are some of the threads of discussions on varying Child and Youth Care related topics.
Questions and Responses have been reproduced verbatim.
Listen to thisHi I was just wondering if anyone has any suggestions on this issue, I am writing a paper on it would like some help from people who may of experienced this issue first hand in the work force ... thank you kindly for the information.
Caroline
...
Hello,
Working with foster children and youth, and assisting in teaching at
university level attachment disorders, I may have some answers for you.
Please contact me at
amanda.rose@live.ca if you are interested in talking!
:)
Amanda Rose
...
Hi Caroline,
I attended a workshop about a year ago on the subject of Attachment
Disorder. The keynote speaker was a woman by the name of Tanya Helton,
who is associated with Forest Cottage Center Inc. They have a very
comprehensive website with numerous resources and information.
http://www.forestcottagecentre.com/
Hope this helps
Michelle Buttery
...
Dear Caroline,
First off let me say, thank you for your question. I personally work relief
at a program where I deal one on one with children between the ages of 5 and
12, and the majority of them have one form or another of attachment
disorder. It is interesting to see how each and every one of the kids I deal
with handle attachment, but for the most part I deal with insecure
attachments. With my experience I have noticed that most will warm up to you
quite quickly if you have a strong personality, but these kids have a way of
almost, testing you. I think that when they are pushing you away, what it is
they really want is to protect themselves from any further hurt. These kids
have been treated so badly by people who are supposed to love them, and then
they come to a place that they learn is safe, and start to attach to a
worker, and then the worker quits, or moves on?? and then we wonder why they
can't seem to build health relationships?? hum..
There have been many times where a youth will be close to you and then when
they blow up, they attack you physically and verbally. I think that in their
way, this is how they "test" you. How far can they go until you don't come
back. This is way I think it is important to know that they are not doing it
to hurt you, but in a way, to stop themselves from getting hurt. I know it
sounds weird, but I see it first hand, and I can't help but build this
theory. I think that the most important thing that we need to do for this
specific age group, is nurture and teach them, they are so young, and need
guidance, and want it. And they way we can do that is by setting limits and
build relationships with them, and if we need to move on, then we need to
set up closure with them, so they understand.
I don't know if this will help you with your paper, but it is a tough
subject, I would recommend looking up some journal articles on attachment on
the cyc-net.
Thank you.
Keeli Elaschuk.
Calgary, Alberta.
...
Hi
I just finished a paper on attachment disorder and I found a good site using
the msn search engine. I typed in the words and came up with a few good
articles to site. I also did some case studies. I myself am in first year. I
found the book A Child's World by Papalia et al good for sources as
well. I know that not much has been done but there is some stuff out there
if you look. Google scholar might have some good resources too.
Isabel Jarvis
...
Caroline,
I know I'm not answering your question directly but I would like to throw in
a cautionary note. The "attachment disorder" diagnosis assumes that the
problem lies within the child. In my opinion the difficulty is relational
and refers to the quality of the bond between parent and child. In this case
the work is relational, not remedial. Just something for you to
consider.
Relationally yours,
Gerry Fewster
...
Hi Caroline
You might want to decide if you mean attachment disorder (DSM IV, ICD10) or
attachment insecurity and/or disorganization (perhaps summarized as
attachment difficulty).
I have long standing interest in the second. I have worked in residential
settings for over twenty years with children and young people with insecure
and often disorganized patterns of attachment, and been involved in
developing and promoting a therapeutic approach to group care. I hope it is
not immodest of me to mention a practical book on this: A Practical
Guide to Caring for Children and Teenagers with Attachment Difficulties
(author: Chris Taylor from Jessica Kingsley).
Good luck in your research.
Chris
...
Hi Caroline
I'm never sure how helpful other people's notes are, but I'm sending a
handout I have in pdf on Attachment and Conduct Disorders. Use as you
will.
See it at:
https://www.cyc-net.org/pdf/fox-attachconduct.pdf
Lorraine Fox
...
Hi Caroline,
I have used attachment theory to help children for many years, even during
the time that it was very unpopular. Whilst it is very widely used to
understand the needs of children, and that has obvious benefits, it is less
influential in direct application. A couple of years ago I produced a paper
for colleagues in the organisation I work for which tries to give examples
of attachment theory in practice. I could send it to you if it would be
useful.
Yours,
David Pithers
...
The concern I have with many of the treatment protocols
established and promoted within the "Attachment Disorder Community" is that
they focus almost entirely on the child / youth and not on the real problem
which is the RELATIONSHIP the child / youth has with other people in his /
her life.
Most if not all of these children have had horrendous learning experiences
in the area of finding, establishing and strengthening healthy
relationships.The adults in their life need to be as much of the focus of
treatment as the child / youth does.
Gregory Manning, PsyD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
...
This is a very interesting topic because it can be experienced by all.
Because attachment is the deep and enduring connection established between a
child and caregiver and it has a profound influence on both individuals.
However, if that form of attachment is disrupted, it
could lead to emotional and social problems, as well as causing biochemical
consequences in the developing brain of the child. That is why it is the
beneficial for workers and professionals in the field to be properly
informed and equipped with some form of specialized training to facilitate
secure attachment, and healthy attachment.
Some would say attachment disorder is along the lines of addiction. It is a
form of validating risky behaviours by saying that they are helping other
serious problems that one may be experiencing internally. It is used when
one need is not met so a need that can be met will be used to its full
extent, at a very high risk emotionally and psychologically. Many of the
individuals with attachment disorders are very vulnerable and substitute
their issues and connections with human relationships. One book you should
really look into that is really very interesting is called Addiction as
an Attachment Disorder by Phillip J. Flores. It may not be directed
solely on attachment disorder but it ties in a lot of things that are really
interesting and I found quite helpful when writing my paper for my
practicum. I hope this helps a bit. Good luck.
Elyse Peacock
Mount Royal University
...
The treatment protocols that my agency follows
specifically involve the Primary Caregiver as you are correct, it is just as
much about helping the Caregiver understand how the "dance of reciprocity"
isn't the same for kids with this diagnosis. Thus treatment needs to involve
caregiver peer support groups as well as therapeutic intervention with child
and caregiver/Youth worker.. Though I wouldn't use Theraplay as an
intervention everytime I love to use the Marshcak Assessment in most cases.
Theraplay group activities integrated in group settings with kids and cyw's
can also be very powerful..
Theresa Fraser
...
Dear Everyone,
I agree with Gregory Manning and Elyse K Peacock that attachment is a two
way process and that we should be considering the strength of the attachment
relationship not just the child's capacity to attach which after all is
substantially defined by the adults who look after the child. The most
recent work of the attachment theorist and psychoanalyst Peter Fonagy
has focussed on this. His findings suggest – not surprisingly – that people who in childhood experience disrupted or poor attachments
relationships with
parenting figures are likely to struggle to make healthy attachments to
their own children if they are not provided at some time in their lives with
replenishment or indeed plenishment. The latter process in part defines our
work. I have for practical reasons simplified the work of Fonagy and his
contemporaries but I think my gist is in large part accurate. John
Fallowfield has written an excellent introductory article about classic
attachment theory, Attachment theory and social work with 'looked after'
children and their families which can be googled. For Peter Fonagy's
work on attachment relationships read Fonagy, P. (2001) Attachment
Theory and Psychoanalysis. New York: Other Press.
For me the forming of healthy mutual relationships which enable the caring
adult as well as the youngster to grow is the fundament of our work.
Best wishes,
Charles Sharpe
