Narrative Therapy for Child

Introduction

The foundation of Family Attachment Narrative Therapy is the idea that early trauma and neglect may have a profound influence on attachment, development, and relationships. This therapeutic method is intended to repair the long-term impacts of early childhood trauma. Caregiver narratives are used by practitioners of the technique, who see caregivers as the most important element in the healing process, to assist address and mend the unmet needs of the child or adolescent.

This treatment approach is primarily intended for children aged three to twenty-one who are dealing with issues related to early childhood trauma, disrupted attachment, and adoption; however, it can also be used to address other concerns and may be helpful to individuals seeking therapy for other purposes.

FAMILY ATTACHMENT NARRATIVE THERAPY THEORY

This technique is primarily grounded in attachment theory, which posits that all children need security, stability, and attention from their caregivers. It maintains that children may typically develop a healthy attachment when they regularly get these things. However, both the internal working model and the attachment process are frequently jeopardized when trauma, neglect, or abuse are present. Violence, abandonment, and physical or emotional trauma are likely to disrupt a child’s working picture of their attachment figures. This can have cognitive, emotional, relational, and physical repercussions. Children that are this impacted continue connect to meet their wants, but they may develop maladaptive ways of meeting needs if they don’t have a trustworthy internal model to guide them through the world.

When kids start to explore their surroundings and learn to utilize their caregivers as a “secure base” from which to explore their surroundings, it’s a crucial stage in their development. When parents are caring and constant, they receive confirmation that they are safe and secure. They check in with their parents again to for reassurance. On the other hand, children who experience trauma, violence, neglect, or other forms of abuse may feel incomplete and insecure, and their created narratives may become jumbled, jumbled, or broken. This may impede development as early-life traumatizing experiences might educate kids that they lack a safe “base” from which to securely explore. When a parent is physically abused, for instance, they frequently start to feel comfortable and fearful. When kids see this unclear connection, they could get anxious or start acting in a demanding or domineering way. In the event of trauma, the attunement process—which enables parents to strengthen their relationship with their kid by attending to their needs, mirroring their language and experience, and developing a shared viewpoint—may also be hampered or uneven.

Family attachment narrative therapy proponents contend that narratives can frequently heal attachment problems between a child and their caregivers. The approach’s practitioners assist parents in assisting their children in rewriting fragmented narratives into cohesive, uplifting stories.

HOW DOES TREATMENT WORK?

The goal of family attachment narrative therapy is to strengthen the relationship between kids and their parents/guardians. Child counsellor expert in the technique perform a comprehensive examination prior to starting therapy to ascertain whether the family is a suitable fit for the strategy. The family starts an intense treatment regimen consisting of daily sessions that lasts around two weeks if the program is recommended as a course of action. During this period, parents receive training on creating narratives, which are the main tool used by practitioners of this technique to help their kid recover.

Throughout therapy, parents and other caregivers are taught four different kinds of narratives:

Claiming: Parents are assisted by Child counsellor in expressing their ideal parenting style for their infant. Parents are urged to talk to their children about their need for care, love, and security, and they are trained to see their kid as a defenseless infant in need of all three.

Developmental: This kind of story expands upon the narrative of claiming. In addition to discussing their aspirations and dreams for their child’s successful growth, caregivers talk about their child’s developmental phases in the first person. Parents may use this as a chance to teach their child about flexibility and conduct that is acceptable for their developmental stage. During this treatment, caregiver-child bonds usually strengthen, and youngsters might acquire new abilities and learn how to reinterpret or modify their judgments about their experiences.

Trauma: Storytelling about trauma focuses on mending the child’s real past, as opposed to Claiming and Developmental narratives, which are more concerned with bonding to the current parent. Parents are taught by Child counsellor to narrate stories in the third person, reminiscent of fairy tales, with a protagonist who goes through struggles that the kid goes through. The purpose of these stories is to assist in reframing the trauma and redefining its significance for the youngster.

Successful Child: In this story’s development, parents employ the third person to narrate a tale that centers on a strong protagonist who surmounts challenges and succeeds. The goal of this story is to assist the youngster in internalizing a modified working model of their environment and past. This new working paradigm frequently has the extra benefit of strengthening the kid’s sense of self. It can also improve attunement and bonding between parent and child. During this treatment, caregiver-child bonds usually strengthen, and youngsters might acquire new abilities and learn how to reinterpret or modify their judgments about their experiences. To assist families in processing any challenging emotions that surface during treatment, therapists frequently combine storytelling with other modalities including play therapy, audio-visual entrainment (AVE), and EMDR (eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing). The Child counsellor will offer additional recommendations for step-down treatment programs, follow-up therapy, or other treatment services at the end of the two-week period.

ISSUES TREATED

This technique is generally applied as an intense strategy to deal with family or parent-child problems, particularly those that have to do with attachment, like:

• Unease
• Issues with adoption and foster care
• Separation phobia
• terrifying events
• Concerns about mistreatment and disregard

Parent-child relationships problems

Additionally, studies have shown that the method is effective in treating eating disorders, problems with sibling connection, and certain behavioral challenges.

When this strategy is used with caregivers who are experiencing anger, frustration, or other negative emotions related to caring for a child who may be affected by attachment disorders or other challenges, the caregivers’ personal well-being frequently improves significantly. When they reestablish or form relationships with the kid, Child counsellor who provide empathy and support can assist them in regaining their sense of empathy.

RESTRICTIONS AND APOLOGIES

Although the information on this approach’s effectiveness that is now available is encouraging, there is no assurance that the program will benefit every kid who has suffered from early childhood trauma. Genetic disorders, neurological disorders, and early drug and alcohol exposure can all affect a child’s capacity to form strong bonds with caregivers.

Another constraint would be the preparedness of parents and other caregivers to take on the role of “narrative therapist” for the kid. Child counsellor want parents and caregivers to be able and willing to provide empathy, validation, forgiveness, and love. Family Attachment Narrative Therapy demands that parents have the desire to mend and develop the attachment bond. It’s possible that parents aren’t ready to engage in the attachment work just yet if they’re upset with their child or can’t see past problematic behaviors. 

Lastly, foster and adoptive families are the main target audience for the literature and research that is currently accessible on the approach of Family Attachment Narrative Therapy. Nonetheless, a lot of Child counsellor work with biological families who have experienced abuse, neglect, and trauma in their early years. Therefore, professionals who deal with this population would probably benefit from additional knowledge and training regarding working with biological families that have experienced abuse or neglect.

Conclusion

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