Traumatising children over a prolonged period of time, especially at a young age will develop attachment challenges. Healthy attachment develops within healthy and balanced relationships with the significant others in their lives, and specifically with their parents. When relationships are going wrong at the stages where the child is still busy to develop his or her boundaries, will develop unhealthy attachment styles.
The four child/adult attachment styles are:
- Secure – autonomous;
- Avoidant – dismissing;
- Anxious – preoccupied; and
- Disorganized – unresolved - ambivalent.
Psychotherapy for traumatised children requires specialised techniques and knowledge, which we call a bottom-side-up approach (developmentallly-sequential). This is a complicated process where the therapist needs to know child development very well. Timing of interventions at the right level of development is of vital importance.
We use our current knowledge about neuroscience to align and enhance our therapeutic practices. An Integrated Therapeutic Trauma model is used. Trauma-informed language is used, and potential, not pathology.
Only playtherapy is simply not enough.
The same applies to adults.