The author of outstanding “The Simple Guide...” series (including Sensitive Boys, Child Trauma, Shame and Children etc) and the excellent “Teaching the Child On The Trauma Continuum“, Betsy De Thierry, is someone whose work is detailed, informative and evidence based whilst also maintaining the ability to be completely accessible to teachers, parents and other adults interested in the wellbeing of the young people in our lives. The “Simple Guide To Attachment Difficulties” is no different and is the subject of this review.

This easy-to-read book provides the kind of help we were looking for; it lays the problem out clearly and then seeks to offer insight and not trite solutions

carrie grantDr Carrier Grant MBE

What is this book about?

  • What is Attachment?

  • How Does Attachment Develop and Get Stronger?

  • The Brain Science around Attachment

  • The Safe Place and Co-Regulation

  • What is an Unhealthy Attachment Behaviour?

  • Parenting That Can Hinder a Healthy Attachment

  • Attachment Trauma

  • Attachment Difficulties

  • A Healing Adult Relationship

  • Resilience, Bad Days and Top Tips

Who is this book for?

  • SENCOs

  • Teachers

  • Teaching assistants

  • Parents

  • Education Professionals

  • Adults working with children and young people

  • Students interested in a career in education/social care

Rating

Rating 95

Thoughts

The great thing about any of Betsy’s books are their structure – evidence based followed by practical strategies to use in the classroom or home. This book is no exception. Betsy has an incredibly knowledgeable background in the affects of trauma, shame and attachment difficulties on children and these themes inform all of the guidance within this. She imparts her knowledge with examples, theoretical background and experience winning the hearts and mind of the reader before offering her own guidance as to how we can use the power we hold to advance the life quality of the young people within our care.

This book offers the grounding in attachment difficulties and trauma required to understand complex needs and then provides the reader with the confidence to use the healing power of the adult-child relationship to make a real difference. For parents, there is advice around how to maintain your relationship with your children in a way that helps them to develop a healthy attachment with you. This is equally useful for teachers and teaching assistants. A good understanding is also provided for the underlying drivers of attachment based behaviours and the best way to approach them.

This is a must read for anyone working with a child who presents as “attention needing”, has a strong desire to control or who can struggle to maintain appropriate relationships with staff/peers (dismissing/overwhelming etc).