Healing the Hidden Hurts: Transforming Attachment and Trauma Theory into Effective Practice with Families, Children and Adults provides a unique collection of professional and personal responses to the challenges that arise in dealing with attachment difficulties.

With contributions from social workers, adoptive parents, adoptees, psychologists, therapists, counsellors and other related professionals, this book provides a varied and expansive approach to explaining attachment theory. The authors speak from personal experience to deliver explanations of theory, how they relate to practice and to provide practical guidance on how to improve the physical, emotional and psychological development of children in care across a broad range of professional settings.

This book provides valuable insights relevant to practitioners within the fields of social work, health, education, the criminal justice system and any independent and voluntary sectors working with children and families.

Foreword. David Howe, University of East Anglia. Introduction. Caroline Archer, independent consultant and therapeutic parent mentor, Charlotte Drury, Chair of Attachment Network Wales and Jude Hills. Part 1 Introductory Narrative: Hurt, Humour and Persistence. 1. 'Jolly Walking': How Social workers Can Support Poorly Attached Children and Their Caregivers Effectively . Victoria Drury, social worker. Part 2. Educational Narratives: Understanding, Nurturing and Transitions. 2. The Message Behind the Behaviour: Understanding Attachment in the Classroom. Emma Birch, PhD student, University of Edinburgh. 3. Nurturing the Educational Environment: Creating Safe Space for Children to Learn. Ann Cartwright, teacher and author. 4. 'No,no,no, Mummy. I Don't Want to go to Nursery!': Traumatic Transitions from Home to School. Marie Martin. Part 3. Therapeutic Narratives: Moving, Mentoring, Partnerships and Patience. 5. 'Not Again Little Owl': Transitions from Foster Care to Adoption . Viv Norris, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Certified Theraplay® Therapist and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) Practitioner. 6. Developmental Trauma and Attachment: An Integrative Therapeutic Approach . Lisa Waycott, Clinical Director of Stepping Stones (Child Therapy Consultants) Ltd and Senior Lecturer, University of South Wales, Claire Carbiss, Play Therapist, Stepping Stones (Child Therapy Consultants) Ltd and Karen McInness, University of South Wales and Stepping Stones (Child Therapy Consultants) Ltd. 7. 'Smile Though Your Heart is Breaking': Therapeutic Parent Mentoring for 'Good Kids' and Their Families. Caroline Archer, independent consultant and therapeutic parent mentor. 8. Getting the Right FIT: The Team as a Secure Base for Supporting Families - Helen O'Shea, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and Elaine Simpson, Action for Children. 9. 'Slowly Undoing': A Case Study from a Residential Setting. Jonny Matthew, Youth Justice Board and Tricia Skuse, Wales Forensic Adolescent Consultation and Treatment (FACT). Part 4. Legal Narrative: Assessments and Court Reports. 10. Beyond Feeding and Watering: Trauma and Attachment-based Court Assessments. Christine Gordon, Family Futures Consortium. Part 5. Personal Narratives: Pain, Persistence and Growth. 11. Through Prison Walls: Strengthening Adult Attachments from the Outside In. Hannah Fryer. 12. Mending Hearts: The Lasting Effects of Early Surgical Trauma. Jane McNamara, counsellor, play therapist and writer. 13. Holding on and Letting Go: Bereavement and the Bonds of Attachment, An Adoptee's Perspective. Tamara Gordon, producer and director. Part 6. Closing Narrative: Expression and Exploration. 14. 'And If You Have No Words for It?': An Exploration of Attachment Issues Through Art Therapy . Helen Jury, Art Psychotherapist, Course Leader MA Art Psychotherapy, University South Wales. Index. Glossary. References.