I am frequently asked about “attachment therapy” and “attachment parenting” and various treatments. Many books and others claim success with their approach and individuals often write glorious reviews of these approaches. Yet, we know that these approaches are NOT supported in the literature and withstanding the scrutiny of peers. As such, I wanted to just briefly compile a short list of assessments, tools, treatments and theory approved by Advocates for Children in Therapy that is evidenced based (researched and replicated with a control group) and a list of unsupported assessments, tools, treatments and theory. These can also be found on the Advocates for Children in Therapy website as well as literature such as Handbook of Attachment, Disorganized Attachment, Disorganized Attachment and Caregiving, Parenting Representations, Clinical Applications of the Adult Attachment Interview and others. I have also included a list of accepted assessment tools for assessing attachment quality.
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
Kazdin Method for Parenting the Defiant Child
Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up Intervention
Circle of Security
Incredible Years
Adult Attachment Interview
Strange Situation
Attachment Q-Sort
Attachment Story Telling Completion Task
Attachment Doll Play Assessment
Adult Attachment Projective Picture System
Caregiving Helplessness Questionnaire
Working Model of Child Interview
Parent Development Interview
Circle of Security Interview
Attachment Script Sets
Ainsworth Maternal Sensitivity Scales
Below is a list of treatments and interventions, tools and theories NOT recommended:
- Attachment Disorder
- Attachment Therapy
- Attachment Therapy Parenting
- Beyond Consequences
- Cline/Helding Adopted and Foster Child Assessment
- Cline/Helding Adoptive Parent Attitude Assessment
- Complex Trauma
- Corrective Attachment Therapy
- Critical Care Parenting
- Dr Post’s New Family Revolution
- Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy
- Emotional Deficit Syndrome
- Family Centered Regulatory Therapy
- Holding Therapy
- Holding Time
- Humanistic Attachment Therapy
- Integrative Dyadic Psychotherapy
- Nancy Thomas Parenting
- Family Attachment Narrative
- Pre and Peri Natal Psychology
- Rage Therapy
- Rage Reduction Therapy
- Randolph Attachment Disorder Questionnaire
- Reactive Attachment Disorder
- Stress Model
- Theraplay
- Z-Therapy
On the Advocates for Children in Therapy Website, they list the names of proponents of the above treatments. When entrusting your care and the care of your children to someone following one of these models, caution and care must be taken. While there may certainly be some benefits, there is a possibility of doing more harm than good. Remember, the motto of the creators of the Circle of Security state “Parenting in 25 words or less: ALWAYS be BIGGER, STRONGER, WISER, and KIND. Whenever possible, follow the child’s need. Whenever necessary, take charge.” Ensuring proper treatment for your child is a take charge moment!!!