Online Resources for Reactive Attachment Disorder

("The Signs and Symptoms of Reactive Attachment Disorder | Amen Clinics", 2018)

There are many different online resources for reactive attachment disorder.

The first one is https://www.instituteforattachment.org/finding-resources-for-attachment-disorderrad-5-tips-on-where-to-start/ and this website gives five different resources for a child who is suffering from RAD and the parents of that child. The first step the website says to do is find a therapist experienced in trauma and attachment. It can be hard for parents because many of them go to therapists who are not specialized in trauma and attachment disorders. They also would need to be referred to a psychiatrist so the child can be prescribed specific medications, the therapist and the psychiatrist normally work together. The second step that a person going through reactive attachment disorder is, to talk to your school. Parents should go talk to their child's teachers to let them know what they are going through just so they understand how they are feeling and how to help them make the child's day a little more easier. The third step would be to educate yourself, many people don't know about this disorder but to know more about it you could always go online and research or read books about reactive attachment disorder. The fourth step is to find RAD or attachment disorder family and parent support groups in your area. If you are trying to find a support group you could always look online to find one, there are also some Facebook support groups that anyone could join. An example of one could be, https://www.facebook.com/instituteforattchment and it could be helpful for some families who don't have support groups in their area. The final step would be to find local education sources. This is important because many people do not understand this disorder, and it can help parents with a child who has this disorder gain some knowledge about what their child is going through." (Noonan, 2014). 

The second online resource is http://buildingyourfamily.com/adoption/foster-adoption/responsive-parenting-healthy-attachment/. This website tells parents twelve different parenting techniques that they can use to help form healthy attachments with their baby and letting parents know that no matter their child's history they can almost always form a healthy attachment to their parent. It all just takes time for the child to adjust. (Solchany, 2017).

The third online resource is http://media.wix.com/ugd/7f907f_0edad1c61ee1446b94e4cb7993a91786.pdf and it is letting people know what reactive attachment disorder is and letting them know how to treat it because basically, a child who has this disorder is unable to make connections or attachments to people and also have behavioural issues. This article also talks about different treatments and recommends people to go see therapists who are specialized in attachment therapy. (Forbes, 2015).

 The fourth online resource is https://childmind.org/guide/reactive-attachment-disorder/ and this website basically tells people what to look for in a child who has reactive attachment disorder it is a guide to help parents understand what their child is going through, how it can be treated and how it is diagnosed. ("Reactive Attachment Disorder basics", nd). 

The fifth online resource is https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/expressive-trauma-integration/201808/what-is-developmental-trauma and this article is talking about how a child will develop this disorder. It talks about how it starts in the early years of childhood and that it can manifest into other disorders. For example, ADHD, personality disorders, PTSD, speech delays, learning disabilities, and more. This is a very clear guide for families who have a child that has reactive attachment disorder to read and instantly gain knowledge about and help them to get to know their child a bit better. (Gertel Kraybill, 2018).

Written By: Naguiba Youssouf

References:

Forbes, H. (2015). Retrieved from http://media.wix.com/ugd/7f907f_0edad1c61ee1446b94e4cb7993a91786.pdf

Gertel Kraybill, O. (2018). What Is Developmental Trauma?. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/expressive-trauma-integration/201808/what-is-developmental-trauma

Noonan, N. (2014). Finding resources for developmental trauma (a.k.a. reactive attachment disorder): 5 Tips on Where to Start. Retrieved from https://www.instituteforattachment.org/finding-resources-for-attachment-disorderrad-5-tips-on-where-to-start/

Reactive Attachment Disorder Basics. Retrieved from https://childmind.org/guide/reactive-attachment-disorder/

Solchany, J. (2017). 12 Responsive Parenting Techniques to Form a Healthy Attachment. Retrieved from http://buildingyourfamily.com/adoption/foster-adoption/responsive-parenting-healthy-attachment/

The Signs and Symptoms of Reactive Attachment Disorder | Amen Clinics. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.amenclinics.com/blog/the-signs-and-symptoms-of-reactive-attachment-disorder/

Community Resources

1. Mental health walk-in center

   Program service: crossroads childrens center

   Phone: 613-723-1623 x 333

   Location:1755 Courtwood Crescent, Ottawa, ON.

   Hours: Wednesdays, 9 am to 12 pm

   Every  Thursday, from 12 pm to 8 pm

Summary

This program helps families with better understanding if your child is going through challenges
with behaviour, emotional state, mental health diagnosis (e.g. anxiety, depression, ADHD),
school-related issues, or your child struggles with peers, a family conflict, or any other issues.
This center provides counselling through a single session with experienced professionals,
who help identify challenges and help families to find tools and strategies.

Reference

Mental Health Walk-In Clinic: Ottawa-Carleton, ON: eMentalHealth.ca. (2019).
Retrieved from https://www.ementalhealth.ca/index.php?m=record&ID=18654

2. The counselling group

    Phone: 613-722-2225 x352

    Location: 300-2255 Carling Ave

Summary

This an all aged, English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Mandarin, Cantonese,
Creole-speaking center, who have experienced and trained staff that provide a variety of
support services for children, adolescents, and adults. We offer individual, couple, family,
and group counselling. It is also a non-profit.

Reference

The Counselling Group: Ottawa-Carleton, ON: eMentalHealth.ca. (2019).
Retrieved from https://www.ementalhealth.ca/index.php?m=record&ID=24713

3. Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre (WOCRC)

Phone:613-591-3686

Location:2 MacNeil Court

Summary

This is a non-profit resource center that serves all ages. It provides a variety of programs
for children, youth and families. The programs that this center has are Counselling and
Referral,  Early Years Centre for children ages 0-6, Children and Youth Services, Services for
Seniors and People with Disabilities.

Reference

Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre (WOCRC): Ottawa-Carleton, ON: eMentalHealth.ca. (2019).
Retrieved from https://www.ementalhealth.ca/index.php?m=record&ID=9330

Written by Shanice Phillips-Williams

Interventions for Reactive Attachment Disorder

Interventions for RAD

According to www.excellenceforchildandyouth.ca

"A number of organizations have written reports outlining treatment recommendations for RAD (e.g., the American Academy for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, the Centre for Child and Family Health, University of Kansas Best Practices in Child and Youth Mental Health Reports). Relevant documents can be found in the references section, and the points listed below are a synthesis of common themes between these sources. One meta-analysis (Bakermans–Kranenburg et al., 2005) was found on the topic of disorganized infant attachment, which focused on interventions that were designed to change from a disorganized style to an organized style. The main findings from this meta-analysis were: Interventions were most effective when they started after but close to the age of 6 months, which suggests there may be an optimal time period to intervene to support the development of a stable, attached relationship." 

Some of the interventions/therapies suggested in the literature include; Attachment and Biobehavioural Catch-up (ABC) intervention, Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP), Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, and Circle of Security Intervention (COS). Attachment and Biobehavioural Catch-up therapy consist of teaching parents that their children need to be nurtured even if the child acts like they do not want to be. It helps parents become more nurturing and provides the child with a responsive and predictable environment. Child-Parent Psychotherapy intends on strengthening the child-parent relationship. Parent-Child Interaction Therapy is also for increasing the child-parent relationship and is more focused on children with behavioural and emotional problems. Circle of Security Intervention helps parents to be able to respond to their child’s needs sensitively.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE INTERVENTIONS

·        Attachment and Biobehavioural Catch-up

http://www.cebc4cw.org/program/attachment-and-biobehavioral-catch-up

·        Child-Parent Psychotherapy

http://www.cebc4cw.org/program/child-parent-psychotherapy

·        Parent-Child Interaction Therapy

http://www.cebc4cw.org/program/parent-child-interaction-therapy

·        Circle of Security Intervention

http://www.cebc4cw.org/program/circle-of-security

NEXT STEPS AND RESOURCES

Knowing where to find resources with up-to-date, proven information on the best practices for many mental health and mental illness issues including Reactive Attachment Disorder can be useful informing one another and having the knowledge to make any mental health or illness easier to cope and get help. The Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health has many resources and services readily available.

For more information, visit:

• http://www.excellenceforchildandyouth.ca/what-we-do 

• http://www.excellenceforchildandyouth.ca/resource-hub

• http://www.ementalhealth.ca

Information received from

Click here for PDF of where this information was collected from

Image received from
Paper Family Holding Hands

References

(2012, January). Retrieved from www.excellenceforchildandyouth.ca: file:///C:/Users/Marcy/Downloads/eis_reactive_attachment_disorder%20(5).pdf

Bakermans-Kranenburg, M.J., van Ijzendoorn, M.H., Juffer, F. (2005). Disorganized infant attachment and preventative interventions: A review and meta-analysis. Infant Mental Health Journal, 26, 191-216. 
Google. (n.d.), [Paper family holding hands], retrieved April 1, 2019, from https://shakeupyourstyle.com/family/