Books and Resources

I have been reading the book Creating the Capacity for Attachment by Arthur Becker-Weidman, Ph.D. and Deborah Shell, MA. This book further advances the theories we are working from, building on and expanding the ideas of Daniel Hughes, Ph.D. (Building the Bonds of Attachment). The book also gives two examples of using these theories in residential treatment centers: Villa Santa Maria in Santa Fe, New Mexico and Chaddock in Quincy, Illinois. The book is most helpful because it includes many specific examples, tips, techniques and practical suggestions. The author’s web site can be found at: http://www.center4familydevelop.com/.

I came to these authors through seeing Bryan Post at a workshop and being impressed by his teaching. B. Bryan Post, PhD, LCSW is the co-founder of the Beyond Consequences Institute, LLC. Dr. Post is the author of "For All Things A Season", "Dr. Post's New Family Revolution System", and co-author of "The Forever Child" series. He is an internationally recognized specialist in the treatment of emotional and behavioral disturbance in children and families. Dr. Post specializes in a holistic family-based treatment approach that addresses the underlying interactive dynamics of the entire family, a neurophysiologic process he refers to as, "The secret life of the family." As an adopted, and well-known disruptive child himself ("I've set fires, killed animals, and stolen compulsively."), Dr. Post has made it his primary work to speak to parents and professionals from a perspective of true-life experience and in the 'trenches' therapeutic work. More information can be found on Dr. Post and the Post Institute at: http://www.postinstitute.com/

I have also recently read Bryan Posts’ latest book: Beyond Consequences, Logic, and Control: A Love-Based Approach to Helping Attachment-Challenged Children With Severe Behaviors Heather Forbes, LCSW and B. Bryan Post, Ph.D., LCSW
http://www.beyondconsequences.com/. The main tenant of this book is that fear lies below all the acting out, difficult behavior of the children we treat. Therefore, the most effective interventions are those that identify and sooth the fear. This book also has many examples and specific techniques to address specific problems children may demonstrate.

Heather Forbes hosts an email listserve on which parents post for support and advice. It can be found at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DailyParentingReflections/