Course Content:

This course is accessible for local authorities through the ASF to support adoptive parents. It is also Available to access by fostering teams for long term foster carers and SGO’s and by private fostering agencies to help staff develop and implement therapeutic approaches.

Week 1

 The Attachment Journey:

In the first week we look at what attachment is and why it is important for development. There Is specific focus on:

• How the experience in utero and through the first 2 years of life impact on the emotional, psychological, neurological and cognitive functioning of the child.
• Attachment re-enactment and ‘blocked care’.
• The need to reset the Autonomic Nervous System (fff response)
• The importance of relationship in healing relational trauma.

Week 2

 Learning to Lead the Dance:

In the 2^nd week we focus on:

• Trust
• Control
• Co Regulation
• Identifying and meeting the need behind the behaviour
• Strategies to help the child to move from existing to living to be implemented whilst the next 2 weeks are focusing on the adults.

Week 3

 Knowing Me Knowing You:

Week 3 focuses on the adults n the relationship and their own beliefs and expectations in relationship particularly their attachment responses at times of anxiety and threat. We also look at the adults temperament styles and empathy levels and how all of these impact on:

• Their relationship with the child
• Their reactions and responses at times of conflict
• Their relationship responses with each other or their support network
• Awareness of their own ‘buttons’ to minimise negative responses

Week 4

Secondary Trauma:

In week 4 the focus remains on the adults this time looking at the impact on them of caring for a traumatised child. The learning covers:

• Understanding what Secondary Trauma is, how it develops and its impact.
• Areas of risk and vulnerability
• Strategies to help lower or safeguard from the impact of Secondary Trauma
• The importance of self -care

Week 5

The impact of Trauma

In week 6 we look at the impact of trauma on the development of the child focusing on:

• The impact on the survival system with exposure to repeated threat and attack
• Triggers and trauma responses
• Understanding re-enactment
• The presence of dissociation
• Retraining the brain to be able to separate the past from the present

Week 6

Therapeutic Parenting; Putting your learning into practice

In the final week parents are encouraged to look apply what they have learnt to the specific ‘journey’ of their child / children and what they need to do in order for the child / children to be able to re-experience relationship as safe, empathic, consistent, positive and nurturing.