Interview at NYU Medical Center after I did Grand Rounds

Earlier this month I did Grand Rounds at the NYU Medical Center in New York City. Afterwards I was interviewed and you can view the interview at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tJY2CWNqLo

Attachment Focused Treatment Institute Growing

The Attachment Focused Treatment Institute's Certification is growing by leaps and bounds. We have quite a large group on the listserv. Of that group there are about 20 Certified Attachment-Focused Psychotherapists and Family Therapists and five certified Attachment-Focused Consultants. There are two Certified Attachment-Focused Organizations and three in process. The Institute, based at the Academy for Human Development, a University in Singapore, is the one of the few certification programs that is University based. The program certifies therapists who practice Attachment-Focused Treatments, such as Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy.

New York City office now open

Dear colleagues, Our NYC office is now open and we've begun to see families there. We have a wonderful group of staff and affiliates. You can see our info at the division's website. http://www.center4familydevelop.com/newyorkofficelocation.html best regards art

Attachment-Focused Treatment Institute

A collaboration between the Academy for Human Development's Graduate Counseling program (a University in Singapore) and the Center for Family Development. This Institute provides training and certification in Attachment-Focused Therapy, Attachment-Focused Family Therapy, and certification as an Attachment-Focused Professional (for residential treatment center milieu staff, teachers, therapeutic foster parents, occupational therapists, and others who wish to use attachment-facilitating methods in their work. In addition, the Institute providers certification for organizations (Group Homes, Foster Care agencies, Residential Treatment Centers, Wilderness Program, and Therapeutic Boarding Schools as a Certified Attachment-Focused Organization. See the Institute's Facebook page.

The Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy Primer

The Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy Primer is now out in print and Kindle at Amazon. This book describes the principles of Attachment-Focused Treatment, the components of treatment, and the differential use of those 14 components in the five phases of treatment. It is essential a treatment manual, with many clinical examples, describing the essential elements of attachment-focused family therapy.

Attachment Focused Treatment Institute

The Center for Family Development, in conjunction with a University, the Academy of Human Development in Singapore, has opened the Attachment-Focused Treatment Institute. The Institute offers three levels of certification:
Attachment-Focused Therapist
Attachment-Focused Family Therapist
Attachment-Focused Professional


The Attachment-Focused Treatment Institute was founded to provide training and certification in treatment methods based on attachment theory. Attachment-Focused Treatment includes psychotherapy, family therapy, and work by other professionals using the principles of attachment theory to guide interventions, treatment, and programs.

Certification is offered in conjunction with the Academy of Human Development, a university in Singapore, and The Center for Family Development. CEU’s are awarded through the University and the Board of Psychology, Indiana.

There are three Certifications offered: Certified Attachment-Focused Therapist, Certified Attachment-Focused Family Therapist, and Certified Attachment-Focused Professional. The Therapist Certification is for mental health providers. The Professional Certification is for residential treatment center staff, therapeutic foster carers, educators, and others who wish to use Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy and Attachment-Focused Treatment methods in their work.

Certification by the Institute means that the professional has completed a comprehensive course of advanced study in the application of attachment theory and the latest advances in interpersonal neurobiology to treatment, parenting, programming, and practice.

Attachment-Focused Treatment is grounded in attachment theory, the neurobiology of interpersonal experience, and uses methods and principles from Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy.

Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy is an evidence-based, effective, and empirically validated treatment that is grounded in current thinking and research on the etiology and treatment of Complex Trauma or Developmental Trauma Disorder and disorders of attachment. It is now recognized as a general approach to treatment. Treatment is primarily experiential. Teaching parents about attachment-facilitating parenting methods and the importance of attunement and responsive, sensitive parenting is essential.
STEPS TO BECOME CERTIFIED
There are two components to certification. The first is completion of the required number of approved training hours (48), which can be completed through the SKYPE Master Class. The second is the consultation component in which the applicant's work is reviewed to assess how the material is being applied in practice.

Attachment-Focused Therapist & Attachment-Focused Family Therapist
1. Complete 48 hours of training
2. Provide evidence that you are authorized to practice in your jurisdiction, evidence of applicable insurance, singed attestation form.
3. Completion of the Consultation-Practicum: review of a minimum of six DVDs.

Attachment-Focused Professional
1. Complete 48 hours of training.
2. Letter from your supervisor approving your participation in the Institute's certification program.
3. Completion of the Consultation-Practicum: review or observation of a minimum of four DVDs.

Certification is valid for three years. Re-certification requirements include either attending an Advanced Practice Seminar (3 hours) or having one DVD illustrating your work reviewed by a consultant.

Presentation at CALO

I Will be presenting at CALO in April as their keynote speaker for their annual conference. See:
http://caloteens.com/blog/post/Professional-Conference.aspx
This is their annual conference and will be held April 12 & 13 2012.

Assessing Complex Trauma: Webinar

Assessing Complex Trauma

This workshop will describe a three session model for the assessment of Complex Trauma (aka Developmental Trauma Disorder). A brief description of what is Complex Trauma and its effects on child development and the importance of parenting will be followed by a presentation of the assessment protocol. This assessment protocol is multi-modal and uses data from records, caregivers, various psychometric instruments. Screening of the various domains of possible impairment is an essential element of this protocol.

This workshop will only be available through Webinar (instructions on how to access the Webinar will be provided upon registration)

Date: June 15th, 2012 10:00am – 11:30am

Workshop Leaders:

Arthur Becker-Weidman, Ph.D., Center for Family Development

Emily Becker-Weidman, PhD, Child Study Center, New York University





To register, please complete the attached registration form and send to Maribel Cruz

(p) 212-660-1318

(f) 212-660-1319

Email: MaribelC@nyfoundling.org

Vincent J. Fontana Center for Child Protection

27 Christopher Street, New York, NY 10014
The New York State
Chapter of American
Professional Society on the Abuse of Children
Presents
The 2011/2012
Child Abuse
Workshop Series
Co-Sponsored by
The New York Foundling
Vincent J. Fontana Center for Child Protection
Villano Conference Center
27 Christopher Street
New York, New York 10014
www.nyfoundling.org/fontana-center
Workshops
1. Preventing Foster Home Disruption: A Programmatic Approach
This workshop is for mental health clinicians, case planners, supervisors and administrators working in the child welfare system. The workshop will identify the risk factors that contribute to foster home disruption and describe clinical and social service interventions designed to
stabilize the foster home and prevent disruption of the foster home.
Date/Time: October 24, 2011 10:00am to 11:30am
Workshop Leader: Mel Schneiderman, Ph.D
Director of Mental Health Services
New York Foundling
Co-founder Vincent J. Fontana Center for Child Protection
2. Forensically Defensible Child Sexual Abuse Evaluations
This workshop, presented by a defense attorney, will focus on issues which arise in the context of child sexual abuse litigation including Parental Alienation “Syndrome,” the suggestibility of children, allegations of child sexual abuse in the context of divorce/custody proceedings, proper forensic interviewing, the professional ethics of mental health professionals maintaining proper records, and other issues.
Date/Time: December 5, 2011 10:00am to 12pm
Workshop Leader: Lawrence Jay Braunstein Esq.
Partner in the Firm of Braunstein & Zuckerman, Esq.
3. Common Myths and Clinical Realities of Child Maltreatment
Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment or neglect of children. This
workshop will provide a multi-disciplinary forum to explore commonly held beliefs that can
often derail the process of obtaining the best outcomes for a child who has experienced any of these forms of child abuse. Through case-based discussion interspersed with brief didactics we will explore common myths as they relate to each of the forms of child maltreatment while
integrating findings from the literature in the field.
Date/Time: February 3, 2012 10am to 12pm
Workshop Leader: Ingrid Walker-Descartes, MD, MPH, FAAP
Maimonides Infants and Children’s Hospital of Brooklyn Child Abuse Pediatrician
Attending - Pediatric Ambulatory Division
Program Director - Pediatric Residency Training Program
4. Evidence-Based Mental Health Interventions for Child Abuse
This workshop will describe the current state of evidence-based mental health interventions for childhood abuse. Childhood models of PTSD and other sequelae will be described briefly. Em-pirically supported treatment for child sexual abuse, physical abuse and emotional/psychological abuse will be reviewed. Critical issues in treating youth will be described and finally national and state dissemination efforts will be noted, with focus on how New York State can adopt best prac-tices for the treatment of abused children.
Date/Time: April 2, 2012 10am to 11:30am
Workshop Leader: Komal Sharma-Patel, PhD
Assistant Director of Research
PARTNERS Program
St. John’s University
5. Integrating Prevention into Your Practice: American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children Prevention Guidelines
While much of professional practice has the objective of preventing further maltreatment, it is often difficult to understand how to best incorporate prevention activities into our work. This workshop will be hosted by a member of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children Board Prevention Task Force who will review current evidence and best practices in the child maltreatment field and discuss guidelines to assist professionals in integrating preven-tion into their work.
Date/Time: May 1, 2012 10am to 11:30am
Workshop Leader: Vincent J. Palusci, MD MS
Professor of Pediatrics at NYU School of Medicine
Child Abuse Pediatrician at the Frances L. Loeb Child
Protection and Developmental Center at Bellevue Hospital
6. Assessing Complex Trauma
This workshop will describe a three session model for the assessment of Complex Trauma (aka Developmental Trauma Disorder). A brief description of what is Complex Trauma and its effects on child development and the importance of parenting will be followed by a presentation of the assessment protocol. This assessment protocol is multi-modal and uses data from records, care-givers, various psychometric instruments. Screening of the various domains of possible impair-ment is an essential element of this protocol.
This workshop will only be available through Webinar
Date and Time to be announced
Workshop Leaders: Arthur Becker-Weidman, Ph.D.
Center for Family Development
Emily Becker-Weidman, PhD
Child Study Center, New York University
The New York State Chapter of
American Professional Society on the
Abuse of Children
The New York State Chapter of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children provides an opportunity for professionals in New York State to meet, share ideas and experiences, develop strategies for improving
professional services to clients, influence public policy and educate the public, other professionals, and policy makers about child maltreatment.
The New York Foundling
Vincent J. Fontana Center
for Child Protection
The Fontana Center supports the mission and values of The New York Foundling by serving as the advocacy,
public policy, research, professional and community
education arm of the agency.
The Center’s mission is to eliminate child maltreatment through the identification and promotion of evidence based primary prevention and treatment strategies. To achieve this objective, The Fontana Center engages in
research, professional training, community education and advocacy.
Registration Form
Please, indicate which workshop you would like to register for below.
1._____Preventing Foster Home Disruption: A Programmatic Approach
(October 24, 2011 10:00am to 11:30am)
2. Forensically Defensible Child Sexual Abuse Evaluations
(December 5, 2011 10:00am to 12pm)
3._____Common Myths and Clinical Realities of Child Maltreatment
(February 3, 2012 10am to 12pm)
4._____Evidence-Based Mental Health Interventions for Child Abuse
(April 2, 2012 10am to 11:30am)
5. Integrating Prevention into Your Practice: APSAC Prevention Guidelines (May 1, 2012 10am to 11:30am)
6._____Assessing Complex Trauma: Webinar Only
(Date: TBA)
There is no fee for New York State APSAC members or for NY Foundling staff.
There is a $10.00 fee for all non NYS APSAC members.
Please make check payable to:
Vincent J. Fontana Center for Child Protection
All workshops will be held at the Vincent J. Fontana Center for Child Protection
at 27 Christopher Street in Manhattan.
Subway stops: West 4th (A,C, E, F, B, D, M trains) or Christopher Street (1 train)
Send check and registration form to Maribel Cruz at:
maribelc@nyfoundling.org
Vincent J. Fontana Center for Child Protection
27 Christopher Street, New York, NY 10014
Phone: 212-660-1318

Working with culturally diverse groups

I've been reading and thinking, recently, about work with culturally diverse groups and wonder if any of you do and what your experience has been.

In thinking about treatment it seems that family and DDP therapists (who are primarily European-American) may tend to:
* Allow and encourage expressing emotions freely and openly
* View each member as having a right to the member's own unique self: to individuate from the family as a primary unit of identity
* Strive for equal division of labor among members of the family
* Consider egalitarian role relationships between spouses as preferred
* Focus on the nuclear family as the standard.
* Value a present-future time perspective

A variety of other cultures have differing values and orientations (Asian, South-Asian, Black American, First Nations/Native American, Hispanic, to name a few).

It might be interesting to have a discussion about working with culturally diverse groups...if any of us do work with such groups (I do, so that's what prompted my readings and thinking).

regards

art

Spanking lowers IQ scores

A comprehensive study of the literature in the Canadian Medical Journal finds that spanking children results in poor outcomes: lower IQ scores.

The arguments against spanking and corporal punishment are even stronger when considering its re-traumatizing effects on children who have experienced complex trauma.

Attachment Therapy Companion

The book I wrote with 2 colleagues, Attachment Therapy Companion, will be out in July an is now listed on the Norton website:

http://books.wwnorton.com/books/Attachment-focused-Therapy/

The book is meant to be a statement of best practice in the provision of attachment focused therapy. It described the theory base for this approach, appropriate and evidence-based principles for evaluation and treatment, and ethical principles of practice.

It is a must read for anyone practicing treatment grounded in attachment theory.