Attachment is the “give and take” relationship between a child and his or her parents or primary caregiver. It is the foundation for a child’s healthy behavioral, social, emotional and neurological development. A healthy attachment teaches a child to trust and to form healthy relationships throughout his or her life.
What causes a disruption in the development of Attachment?
Lots of things can disrupt the attachment cycle. Here are just a few:
- Being involved in the foster care system ( and a possible history of physical, emotional or sexual abuse, neglect)
- Being adopted (or being in an orphanage, or in multiple homes)
- Early medical difficulties (such as chronic ear infections, feeding difficulties, premature birth, surgery)
- Divorce / Separation from primary caregiver
- Loss ( from a death, or moving away)
- Depression in a parent
Some of the behaviors we address are:
- Controlling behaviors / Lack of trust in adults
- Oppositional / Defiant
- Food issues (hiding food, refusing to eat, eating too much)
- Aggression (toward parents or peers)
- Lying, Stealing, Cheating
- Constant chattering
- Temper / Anger outbursts
- Withdrawing / Isolating self
- Inability to give or receive affection
- An inability to empathize with others or feel remorse
- Destructive behavior
- Attempting to manipulate others
- Cruelty to animals
- Indiscriminate affection toward strangers
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