Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy:
An Attachment-Based Treatment for Children Who Have Experienced Abuse and Neglect Presented by Daniel Hughes, PhD

Web Conference Description

This presentation focuses on the treatment of children and youth who have experienced intrafamilial, interpersonal trauma. This treatment is informed by the theories associated with attachment, intersubjectivity, and trauma. Since attachment is understood as being fundamental to the child’s development of a sense of safety and security, and since it is associated with many factors involved in the development of social, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral skills, its relevance in the treatment of trauma (defined in part as the absence of safety) is compelling. Infant intersubjectivity is a well-established theory of how infants learn about self, others, and the world, and its relevance in how older children re-learn such fundamental psychological realities when their original learning was embedded in experiences of abuse and neglect is also worth serious consideration by those who provide treatment to such children. 

Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy facilitates safety and new learning through the relationship that the abused and neglected child has with his therapist and actively works to replicate the characteristics of this relationship with one or more of the child’s attachment figures in his daily life. These attachment figures are actively engaged and the caregiving behaviors that will facilitate secure attachment in the child in their care are actively supported and developed. This Web Conference will present central features of this treatment including the attitude of PACE (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, Empathy) and the open and engaged, affective-reflective dialogue that is utilized throughout explorations of past traumas and current life experiences.

This Web Conference is designed to help clinicians:
1) Describe the importance of psychological safety from the perspectives of both attachment and neuropsychological theories and research;
2) Clarify three central characteristics of intersubjectivity and their relevance to psychological treatment;
3) Understand how the therapist maintains safety for the child or youth while actively exploring past traumas and current secondary symptoms;
4) Explore two principle ways that the therapist facilitates the ability of the child’s attachment figure(s) to provide the child with psychological safety.

If you have any questions about this Web Conference, or would like more information, please contact us here.