Bringing together the latest research and theory about a child's inner world and the impact of the world around them, this is a guide to understanding and responding to the emotional needs of traumatised children.
Founded on the principle that traumatised children do not have a secure sense of self and therefore cannot relate to the outside world without becoming overwhelmed, this book brings psychoanalytic and psychodynamic understandings of child psychology together with current neuroscience and trauma theory. At the heart of the book is an attachment-informed assessment model and guidance for treatment.
Professionals working therapeutically with traumatised children, including therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, mental health workers, social workers and residential care workers, will benefit from the wealth of knowledge and valuable practice guidance presented in this book.
Market: Professionals working therapeutically with traumatized children, such as therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, mental health workers, social pedagogues, child and youth care workers, social workers, residential care workers and foster carers.
Foreword by Dr. Judith Trowell, Patron Thomas Coram and Voice Psychoanalyst and Psychiatrist, Tavistock Clinic London. Introduction. Christine Bradley, Child Care Consultant. Part I. Setting the Scene. 1. The Cotswold Community: The story of a pioneering therapeutic community. John Whitwell, Director, Cotswold Community and ISP Kent until 2016. 2. The Development of the Self: Through a secure attachment. Alistair Cooper, Clinical Psychologist, Anna Freud Centre. Part 2. Falling Apart, Coming Together. 3. Unintegration: Attachment Finding the Starting Point. Christine Bradley. 4. Syndromes of Deprivation: Discovering the Real Self. Christine Bradley. 5. Emotional Needs Assessment Programmes. Christine Bradley. 6. Therapeutic Treatment Programmes. Christine Bradley. Part 3. How It Works/Making It Work. 7. The Way Forward. Christine Bradley. 8. Management and Leadership. John Diamond, CEO Mulberry Bush School, Oxford. 9. Applying the Concept in Different Settings. 9.1. Residential Care. Christine Bradley. 9.2. Fostering. Mark Thomas and Christine Bradley. 9.3. Post-adoption. Christine Bradley with Judith Trowell. 9.4. Education. Christine Bradley with Heather Geddes. 9.5. The Anti-Social Tendency. Christine Bradley. 10. Conclusions. Christine Bradley. Afterword. Jonathan Stanley. References. Glossary.
For all of us, an integrated and coherent sense of self embedded in both history and experience is fundamental to who we are. For some young people, there is a serious challenge in being able to answer this question when abuse, neglect and trauma have invaded their lives. Throughout a lifetime of experience, in this book Christine Bradley sets out how these issues might be addressed to re-build a sense of self that is sustaining and meaningful and above all humane. Nothing could be more important in addressing the current issues for professionals in seeking inspiration and hope in the work that they do.
