ATTACHMENT, TRAUMA, & THERAPEUTIC PARENTING

What do we mean when we talk about attachment? Is NVR suited to parenting children who've experienced loss and trauma? Isn't NVR shaming? Wouldn't we be better just sticking to therapeutic parenting? We've included resources here that should answer all of those questions!
BOOKS
This book explains what the difficult behaviour of children who've experienced developmental trauma might be about, explains why rewards and consequences might be unhelpful, and instead provides empathic strategies that work.
Amber Elliot sets out​ a ten step approach to parenting children who've experienced early trauma. This book, with a focus on parental self care and being realistic about our own limits, feels empathic towards the experiences of therapeutic parents.
Sally Donovan s​tarts from the beginning - managing infertility - and moves through the journey of adopting two children with a history of abuse and neglect, and beyond. Adoptive parents will feel seen.
This book provides an overview of attachment theory, ​and a step by step model of parenting insecurely attached children based on the principles of DDP and PACE (Dan Hughes). Excellent for parents and professionals who want to build their knowledge base.
Another book for parents and professionals​. The book provides an overview of attachment and trauma theory, and outlines the specialist parenting and therapy that children with developmental trauma need in order to heal. Again based on DDP and PACE.
Dan Siegel draws on neurobiology research to explore how our own childhood experiences impact on how we respond as parents, both generally and when we're parenting children who've experienced trauma.
A neuroscientist and a parenting expert join forces to produce this fantastic book which explains how a child's brain develops and ​provides useful information and strategies that will help parents to raise calmer and happier children.
Bryan Post brings a thoroughly love based perspective to the difficult emotions and behaviours of children who've experienced early adversity. Lots of tried and tested loving strategies for some of the things parents find most difficult - like lying and stealing.​
Specifically for parents of adopted teenagers, Rachel Staff ​outlines the impact of early trauma and then explores some of the unique challenges like peer pressure, developing intimate relationships, identity issues, and managing birth family relationships.
While this isn't a therapeutic parenting book, it's full of information that will help parents to understand and respect the inner worlds of their children. This book steps away from traditional 'rewards and consequences' approach focused on getting children to comply with adult demands. Instead there's lots of practical ideas to support collaborative conversations that are focused on finding win-win solutions.
This book is easy to read and the ideas are accessible. Very similar to the previous book focused on kids, this book has been adapted to include typical sources of conflict when parenting teenagers - drugs, sex, peer pressure. Like the previous book, this one supports parents to understand the inner worlds of their teenagers, and provides practical ideas to support collaborative solution focused communication.
Another book for all parents, not just therapeutic parents. A book about understanding ourselves - how our past experiences have shaped us, why we think and feel the way we do, and why we behave the way we do. Full of compassion for our humanity, there are practical ideas for how to build strong relationships with our children at all stages from pregnancy through to adulthood. The goal is good enough not perfect.