Early Childhood Mental Health Treatment: Training Reference Guide

FAQ’s
& Guided Reflection
Attachment
Q: Researchers are now trying to understand the short and long term implications of attachment.
Can attachment patterns change over time
A: Yes. Interventions during the early years are based on the assumption that if early attachments
can be altered the trajectory of long term attachments and new attachments will also
be altered
Q: What should the focus of therapy be – the parent, the child, or the parent and the child
A: We now know that the most effective therapy focuses on the parent-child (Lieberman, 2001).
This does not mean that additional therapy focused on the child cannot be part of the intervention
plan, but generally in order to maintain positive changes within the child, the parent
will need to be involved.
Q: I see many parents who seem unable to recognize the cues their child is giving them.
Can this be changed
A: Yes. Research shows through infant-parent psychotherapy and interactional guidance, parents
can begin to better recognize their child’s cues and respond to these cues in a consistent
manner.
Q: Can I use the interventions described in this chapter
A: No. Each of the interventions described requires training by certified trainers. If you do not
have the training necessary, you may wish to consider the inclusion of a certified therapist in
your team.
Q: When working with a child who has an insecure attachment, should I also be concerned
about other areas of development
A: Yes. It is always advised to use an holistic approach to working with children and families. An
attachment disorder may have an impact on other areas of development that should be
considered in a treatment plan. Developmental measures are listed in the Screening and
Assessment section.
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