Healing Relational Trauma with Attachment-Focused Interventions

From the founder of Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP), this updated and comprehensive guide is the authoritative text on DDP.

DDP is an attachment-focused treatment for children and adolescents who experience abuse and neglect and who are now living in stable foster and adoptive families. Its central interventions are influenced by enhanced knowledge about the structure and functions of the brain, as well as the latest findings regarding developmental trauma and the related attachment problems it brings.

The book describes the DDP therapy, practice and parenting model, illustrated with case material and presented in the context of underlying theory. Also included is a chapter on the development of the evidence base and latest research.

Published Jan 2019

DDP Training in Australia and Singapore

Reviews

“This book is a must-read for anyone living or working with a young person who has suffered developmental trauma. In a deeply moving way, the reader is taken by the hand, into a wealth of fascinating underlying theory and case studies which explore how to engage young people who have been catastrophically hurt by adults in their lives. I am sure that the book will also become a seminal text for anyone studying Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, which is so effective in promoting change in the most defended of young people.”
- Margot Sunderland, D.Psych, D. Litt. (Hons), MA, Bed, Dip GPTI, Director in Education and Training, The Centre for Child Mental Health London, Co-Director of Trauma Informed Schools UK

“This book is a major gift to all the courageous therapists who hope to heal children and their families who have suffered relational trauma. The book provides clear and detailed explanations of the various aspects of the Dyadic Developmental approach. Each section is followed by vivid clinical examples which movingly demonstrate how Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, and Empathy can create a sense of safety and trust that allows parents and children to connect with each other and form secure and loving relationships.”
- Phyllis Booth, MA, Co-Founder of Theraplay, Clinical Director Emerita of The Theraplay Institute

“DDP has rightly established itself as a hugely influential therapeutic model for working with trauma. Pioneered by Dan Hughes' inimitable trailblazing ability to synthesize rich longstanding clinical expertise with the latest developmental science, this excellent book beautifully illustrates DDP in action. It successfully interweaves fine-grained case examples with neurobiology, attachment and trauma theory, alongside careful explanations, leaving the reader in no doubt about the effectiveness of this model, and equally importantly, explaining exactly why it works so well. This book is a credit to the authors and the field, and practitioners from the most experienced to those brand new to DDP or trauma work will find huge benefit in it.”
- Graham Music, PhD, Consultant Psychotherapist, Tavitock Centre, London, author of Nurturing Natures