Attachment Center of Kansas

Helping Families Build Stronger Connections

Attachment focused therapy provided at the Center follows the Dyadic 

Developmental Psychotherapy, Attachment, Self Regulation and 

Competency (ARC) and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy treatment models, uses components of Family Attachment Narrative 

Therapy and Theraplay and follows these ATTACh standards. 

      1.  The primary goal of treatment with children who have attachment problems is to enable them to form healthy attachment relationships with their families and to resolve the dysfunctional feelings and behaviors that have developed. 

      2.  Attachment therapy focuses on trust, empathy, reciprocal behaviors, attunement, touch, communication, physical and emotional closeness and humor and playfulness between the parent/s and child.

      3.  Attachment therapy involves the family and parent participation is essential to the success of treatment.  

      4.  A comprehensive evaluation on the child, parent and the parent/child relationship is completed in order to have an appropriate diagnosis and effective treatment plan.    

      5.  The therapist’s role is to assists the parents in developing parenting strategies and philosophies which support the development of healthy attachments and to serve as a consultant to the parents on issues and interventions, including but not limited to

a.



b.


c.

d.

e.

Supporting the parents’ authority and need to maintain control over the

     family environment while assisting the child to feel safe enough to 

     relinquish his/her compulsive need to be in control .

Increasing the child’s readiness to rely on the parent for safety, help,

     comforting, nurturing.

Encouraging a positive, supportive, family atmosphere. 

Increasing reciprocal, positive interactions between parent and child.

Helping the child make choices that are in his own best interest, and in the

     best interest of his family, and to accept the consequences of those 

     choices. 

Treatment involves two or more sessions weekly that focus on addressing the core issues that cause unhealthy behaviors, thoughts and moods in the individuals and within the relationship.   One session is with the child and parent and the second session is with the parent.  Free resources are provided to parents involved in attachment therapy including a parenting e-book, videos, email and phone support, handouts and more.  

Children’s Attachment Facts

Over 772,000 children experienced neglect and/or physical, emotional and/or sexual abuse each year with children 4 and younger being at the highest risk. More than 80% of maltreatment is committed by a parent.

 
Approximately 40% of children in the general population and up to 80% of children in fostercare and adoption have an unhealthy attachment style.   

Early identification and intervention can prevents the loss of critical development that cannot be recovered, diminish future violence and crimes, enables children and adolescents to succeed in school, to develop socially and avoid years of unnecessary suffering.