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Revision as of 22:05, 28 July 2007 editFainites (talk | contribs)20,907 editsm →Opposition to Attachment Therapy: add ref← Previous edit Revision as of 22:24, 28 July 2007 edit undoDPeterson (talk | contribs)4,116 edits AT per ACT's usage. etcNext edit →
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'''Advocates for Children in Therapy''' (ACT) is a ] ] ] which is opposed to "]." The group believes that some of the ] techniques used in attachment therapy are potentially harmful to children who undergo the treatment. Their mission is to provide advocacy by "raising general public awareness of the dangers and cruelty" of practices related to attachment therapy. According to the group, "ACT works to mobilize parents, professionals, private and governmental regulators, prosecutors, juries, and legislators to end the physical torture and emotional abuse that is Attachment Therapy."<ref name="ACT 2004">{{cite web '''Advocates for Children in Therapy''' (ACT) is a ] ] ] which is opposed to "]." The group believes that some of the ] techniques used in Attachment Therapy are potentially harmful to children who undergo the treatment. Their mission is to provide advocacy by "raising general public awareness of the dangers and cruelty" of practices related to attachment therapy. According to the group, "ACT works to mobilize parents, professionals, private and governmental regulators, prosecutors, juries, and legislators to end the physical torture and emotional abuse that is Attachment Therapy."<ref name="ACT 2004">{{cite web
|author=Advocates for Children in Therapy |author=Advocates for Children in Therapy
|title=Mission statement |title=Mission statement
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</ref> </ref>


The group is led by Linda Rosa, RN, Executive Director; Larry Sarner, Administrative Director; and Jean Mercer, President of its Board of Professional Advisors. The group is led by Linda Rosa, RN, Executive Director; Larry Sarner, Administrative Director; and Jean Mercer, President of its Board of Professional Advisors, none of whom are mental health professonals.


==Opposition to Attachment Therapy== ==Opposition to Attachment Therapy==
] is an ambiguous term with no precise professional meaning but popularly used to describe controversial, non-mainstream "treatments" for children allegedly suffering from ], in itself an ambiguous term. ] is an ambiguous term with no precise professional meaning but popularly used to describe controversial, non-mainstream "treatments" for children allegedly suffering from ], in itself an ambiguous term.
(], 2006, p78<ref name="APSAC 2006">{{cite journal (], 2006, p78<ref name="APSAC 2006">{{cite journal
|title=Report of the APSAC Task Force on Attachment Therapy, Reactive Attachment Disorder, and Attachment Problems |title=Report of the APSAC Task Force on Attachment Therapy, Reactive Attachment Disorder, and Attachment Problems
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|doi=10.1177/1077559505283699 |doi=10.1177/1077559505283699
}}</ref>) }}</ref>)
ACT describes ''attachment therapy'' as "the imposition of boundary violations — most often coercive restraint — and verbal abuse on a child, usually for hours at a time … typically, the child is put in a lap hold with the arms pinned down, or alternatively an adult lies on top of a child lying prone on the floor" and as "a growing, underground movement for the 'treatment' of children who pose disciplinary problems to their parents or caregivers." The group further notes that attachment therapy "almost always involves extremely confrontational, often hostile confrontation of a child by a therapist or parent (sometimes both). Restraint of the child by more powerful adult(s) is considered an essential part of the confrontation" and refers to attachment therapy as "the worst ] in our nation today."<ref name="ACT 2003a">{{cite web ACT describes ''Attachment Therapy'' as "the imposition of boundary violations — most often coercive restraint — and verbal abuse on a child, usually for hours at a time … typically, the child is put in a lap hold with the arms pinned down, or alternatively an adult lies on top of a child lying prone on the floor" and as "a growing, underground movement for the 'treatment' of children who pose disciplinary problems to their parents or caregivers." The group further notes that attachment therapy "almost always involves extremely confrontational, often hostile confrontation of a child by a therapist or parent (sometimes both). Restraint of the child by more powerful adult(s) is considered an essential part of the confrontation" and refers to attachment therapy as "the worst ] in our nation today."<ref name="ACT 2003a">{{cite web
|author=Advocates for Children in Therapy |author=Advocates for Children in Therapy
|title=Overview of attachment therapy |title=Overview of attachment therapy
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ACT also holds views on the issue of diagnosis of ], stating, "A large fringe element of pseudoscientific psychotherapists — Attachment Therapists (AT) — have invented the dubious, unrecognized diagnosis of 'Attachment Disorder' (AD) and its cure. AD is thought to be a child's inability to form a close, loving relationship with his caregiver, typically because of early childhood abuse or neglect. Many, if not most, undesirable behaviors seen in childhood supposedly stem from AD." ACT also holds views on the issue of diagnosis of ], stating, "A large fringe element of pseudoscientific psychotherapists — Attachment Therapists (AT) — have invented the dubious, unrecognized diagnosis of 'Attachment Disorder' (AD) and its cure. AD is thought to be a child's inability to form a close, loving relationship with his caregiver, typically because of early childhood abuse or neglect. Many, if not most, undesirable behaviors seen in childhood supposedly stem from AD."


ACT has advocated for the elimination of attachment therapy and is also critical of the referral of children for government-funded attachment therapy by courts and state workers, referring to such practices as "state-sponsored torture." ACT has advocated for the elimination of Attachment Therapy and is also critical of the referral of children for government-funded attachment therapy by courts and state workers, referring to such practices as "state-sponsored torture."


== Activities == == Activities ==

Revision as of 22:24, 28 July 2007

Advocates for Children in Therapy (ACT) is a non-profit U.S. advocacy group which is opposed to "Attachment Therapy." The group believes that some of the psychotheraputic techniques used in Attachment Therapy are potentially harmful to children who undergo the treatment. Their mission is to provide advocacy by "raising general public awareness of the dangers and cruelty" of practices related to attachment therapy. According to the group, "ACT works to mobilize parents, professionals, private and governmental regulators, prosecutors, juries, and legislators to end the physical torture and emotional abuse that is Attachment Therapy."

The group is led by Linda Rosa, RN, Executive Director; Larry Sarner, Administrative Director; and Jean Mercer, President of its Board of Professional Advisors, none of whom are mental health professonals.

Opposition to Attachment Therapy

Attachment Therapy is an ambiguous term with no precise professional meaning but popularly used to describe controversial, non-mainstream "treatments" for children allegedly suffering from attachment disorder, in itself an ambiguous term. (APSAC, 2006, p78) ACT describes Attachment Therapy as "the imposition of boundary violations — most often coercive restraint — and verbal abuse on a child, usually for hours at a time … typically, the child is put in a lap hold with the arms pinned down, or alternatively an adult lies on top of a child lying prone on the floor" and as "a growing, underground movement for the 'treatment' of children who pose disciplinary problems to their parents or caregivers." The group further notes that attachment therapy "almost always involves extremely confrontational, often hostile confrontation of a child by a therapist or parent (sometimes both). Restraint of the child by more powerful adult(s) is considered an essential part of the confrontation" and refers to attachment therapy as "the worst quackery in our nation today."

ACT has seven criteria for defining attachment therapy as follows:

"For our purposes, we have identified several distinguishing characteristics, any one of which qualifies a practice to be called Attachment Therapy:

  • "Practices, teaches or recommends restraint (or other violations of interpersonal boundaries) for an allegedly therapeutic purpose. The things mentioned are often deliberately confrontational and intrusive.
  • "Principally treats, or is concerned with, a condition of 'Attachment Disorder' (distinct from the DSM-recognized diagnosis of Reactive Attachment Disorder), and assesses for that condition using unvalidated diagnostic tools, or uses no tools at all for objective assessment.
  • "Practices or recommends treatment based on a belief in the efficacy of any of the following: re-traumatization; catharsis, especially through expression of rage, fear, sadness, or other 'negative' emotion; recapitulation (re-enactment, re-living, or 're-doing') of stages of development; or repatterning of the brain.
  • "Adheres to unvalidated notions about child development or attachment, especially the so-called 'Attachment Cycle' (aka Bonding Cycle, Need Cycle, Rage Cycle). Though reference may be made to the Attachment Theory, pioneered by John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth, Attachment Therapy shares very little with that empirical work (and indeed runs counter to it in almost all important respects).
  • "Claims that AT practices are safe and efficacious when there is a near complete lack of scientific support.
  • "Practices or teaches harsh parenting and respite methods, based principally upon combinations of deprivation, isolation or humiliation for the child.
  • "Uncritically recommends materials (such as websites, books, videos, lectures, and conference presentations) which do any of the above."()

ACT also holds views on the issue of diagnosis of attachment disorder, stating, "A large fringe element of pseudoscientific psychotherapists — Attachment Therapists (AT) — have invented the dubious, unrecognized diagnosis of 'Attachment Disorder' (AD) and its cure. AD is thought to be a child's inability to form a close, loving relationship with his caregiver, typically because of early childhood abuse or neglect. Many, if not most, undesirable behaviors seen in childhood supposedly stem from AD."

ACT has advocated for the elimination of Attachment Therapy and is also critical of the referral of children for government-funded attachment therapy by courts and state workers, referring to such practices as "state-sponsored torture."

Activities

The group reports that its three leaders were directly involved in prosecution of the Candace Newmaker case. "All three authors assisted the prosecution in the “rebirthing” trial that resulted in historic 16-year sentences for therapists Connell Watkins and Julie Ponder.". ACT has also entered statements into the record at Congressional hearings on mental health issues. Attachment Therapy on Trial: The Torture and Death of Candace Newmaker (Praeger, 2003), was written by "ACT authors" Jean Mercer, Larry Sarner, and Linda Rosa. ACT sporadically publishes an electronic newsletter, "AT News".

See also

References

  1. Advocates for Children in Therapy (2004). "Mission statement".
  2. Chaffin M (2006). "Report of the APSAC Task Force on Attachment Therapy, Reactive Attachment Disorder, and Attachment Problems". Child Maltreatment. 11 (1): 76–79. doi:10.1177/1077559505283699. ISSN 1552-6119. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |quotes= ignored (help)
  3. ^ Advocates for Children in Therapy (2003). "Overview of attachment therapy". Cite error: The named reference "ACT 2003a" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  4. ^ Advocates for Children in Therapy (30 May 2003). "New Book Examines AT". AT News. Cite error: The named reference "ACT 2003b" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  5. Sarner LW (2003). "Statement Before Human Resources Subcmte of US House Ways & Means Cmte". {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)

External links

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