Again, it is best if you can find a therapist who is attachment and trauma informed. There is more and more research being done in the area of art therapy. It is a non-threatening approach that works very well with some children. Art Therapy:Īrt therapy can help children process what happened to them. The use of sand trays in particular can be useful in helping kids play out some of their past and better process it. Talk therapy is often not as productive for kids who were preverbal at the time of their abuse or neglect because they hadn’t developed language at that time in order to be able to discuss it later.
Play therapy can be particularly beneficial for kids who were very young (babies or prenatally) at the time when their trauma or neglect occurred. If you are fortunate to have one in your area, be sure that it is based on the current science of the impact of trauma on the developing brain and the science of attachment. I feel so fortunate that our area has such a program. With each of our kids, I attended a one year long program specific to attachment and trauma. If you seek the help of a therapist who does not have experience with Reactive Attachment Disorder, they can be distracted by the child’s coping skills (which can come across as charming) and not recognize the signs of RAD. Whether you choose individual and/or family psychological counselling, it is very important to choose a therapist who is trauma informed and experienced in attachment disorders. I suggest consulting a paediatric psychiatrist who specializes in or is at least very familiar with treating attachment and trauma disorders.Ĭhoosing to medicate is a big decision and one where it doesn’t hurt to get a second opinion. It is certainly more complicated than just treating a symptom with a pill. There is no prescription that will magically cure RAD, but there are some that will treat some of the symptoms such as anxiety, aggression, trouble sleeping, and difficulty focusing. I share some of our experience with that here. Medication:Ĭhoosing to medicate a child is a very personal decision. The abbreviated program activity list here (near the bottom) is very helpful. We used TBRI along with some of the other treatment strategies listed in this article. It is based off this theory “Our children were harmed in relationship and they will experience healing through nurturing relationships” ~ Karyn Purvis. The treatment that we have found the most effective for our kids with RAD was TBRI ( Trust Based Relational Intervention). This is one of the reasons why a treatment plan needs to be customized to the child. In fact, it is not uncommon for kids to have several diagnoses on the list. It often comes alongside other diagnoses such as Sensory Processing Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or developmental trauma disorder, ADHD, an anxiety disorder, depression, cognitive delays, or FASD. In many cases, a diagnosis of RAD is not an isolated diagnosis. What works depends on the child, the family, and a variety of other factors such as other diagnoses.
There is no “one size fits all” treatment package I’m afraid when it comes to RAD.
I have not tried everything on this list. This article is based on the current research into the treatment for RAD as well as my personal experience. Two of my kids happen to have the diagnosis. Please remember that I am not a therapist or official expert in the field of Reactive Attachment Disorder. In most cases, a combination of treatments is used. There are several treatment options for Reactive Attachment Disorder.
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