[Matushka]

Is anyone familiar with the post institute and therapy techniques? If so, please give me some insight. Thanks!

[westvirginiamom]

attachment therapies

please read the whole thing, especially the post by rindava... i think she spent some two years caught up in the cult of Bryan Post


my best advice has always been, find someone local who supports your family.... things can't be cured in a weekend

[whoownsthis]

Hmm, I just checked the Oklahoma State Board of Social Workers and it appears "Dr." Post hasn't complied with the Board's orders to provide a "Disclaimer regarding PhD program not accredited by US Dept of Education or State of OK on all advertisements, including websites, fliers, resumes, business cards and telephone books" that was his "reprimand" resolution following a Jan. 2007 investigation into "unprofessional conduct." (I couldn't find any such disclaimer on his Website.)

The reason I came searching here for Mr. Post was because I called one of the ATs Kelly over at RadZebra had given me. Unfortunately when I asked what treatment method this AT uses, the first name out of her mouth was "Post...and Levy and Orlin." Of course I haven't been able to find anything on Levy and Orlin, but if she uses Post's methods, we won't be going to her! And the search continues...

[kxl164]

The only Attachment Therapists in our area are trained through the Post Method and that is who we use. We needed an in-home therapist who knew about Attachment Therapy, and this was the one practice offering both.

Our therapist is wonderful. It is her insight that we needed and guidance, and honestly we needed someone to talk to (as parents) about what it is like dealing with Attachment issues, and have her explain to us the why's and how's of attachment issues in a way that made it clear and relevant to our situation.

Like every other therapy model we take the good and leave the rest. Take what works for you and ignore the other stuff. I don't swallow the whole Post mind-set, but the parts that we are using work for us.

Our experience has been having someone in our home who can see how we react to the behaviors of the children as well as the behaviors themselves, as opposed to talking about it in an office setting. Gaining insight from that and basic help, and when I say basic I mean someone telling you that you rolled your eyes when the child started doing X, were you aware of that and how does that translate to him. Things you may not even be conscious of but have an impact on the child. Another thing that really helped was to look at him when he is exhibiting a behavior, what is going on with his body... is he having fun and is excited by it or is he stiff and scared, and what happened at any time today that could cause him to act out.

With her help we really began to understand what was making our son behave in certain ways, what was driving it, and how to help him. And I don't mean how to use some technique, but what feels natural to us in guiding him to feel safe with us.

She has also talked about re-parenting and ways to do it, (it doesn't always mean holding techniques) but in our case is more cuddle time when things are calm- never forcing it, more floor play, and more out of the house activities.

Our older son is doing so much better after 6 months.

But we are using our own combination of "Post" inspired attachment therapy, Love and Logic, and just plain parenting in our way.

The key for our son was the combination of in-home therapy, speech therapy, and a preschool program that was right for him. Also, time and TPR which ended visitation with the birthfamily.

So I wouldn't write-off the Post theory, but I wouldn't spend thousands of dollars on it either. Try and find a therapist who really knows about Attachment issues and follow your gut with what feels natural to you and right for your child.

[kxl164]

Levy and Orlin book:

Healing Parents: Helping Wounded Children Learn to Trust & Love (Paperback)
by Michael Orlans (Author), Terry M. Levy (Author)

I found it while looking up another book. Just thought I'd post it to the previous poster. I have no idea what it is about or anything, no experience with it, just found it and remembered your post.

[bulrusmama]

kxl has hit the nail on the head. we tried the holding therapy thing for about a week. A week too long. But when you are desperate to help your child you will do almost anything. Maybe it does work for some folks, but not us. We had a therapist come into our home also and show us how we were REACTING to our child. Boy that made a difference. good luck.
WestVirginiaMom, I live in west virginia too! I'm in logan county where are you?
bulrusmama

[Sheriv]

Why do you use the term "cult of Bryan Post"?

Someone shared their cd......and as a parent of a severely RAD' child, so far it seems on target.

Sheri

[hrisme]

I've read most of Post's materials and used several of his methods as an adult adoptee with attachment issues. I have to say that I'm not completly surprised one poster referred to his group as a cult! Many of his methods and beliefs seem to be very extreme to me, and many of those that have gone through his complete program seem to have this "his way is the only way" kind of mentality. That being said, he has a lot of good material and a lot of insight. A lot of what he does is beneficial. I wouldn't turn away from a therapist just because they use his approach.

[rindava]

in 2003 the medicaid provider recommended taking my son who had autism and prenatal drug exposure to Bryan for treatment...

I went as some organization locally were saying give him back he was too difficult to parent

treatment consisted of being held on an air mat for 3 days to cry about what ever reason I was insane enought to bring someone elses damaged good into my home...

my daughters (emotionally healthy, never did AT with them... adopted at 7 and 4 from public foster care now 16 and 13.. doing wonderfully without AT) but they had nightmares for years after the mat therapy

Bryan's method is MANDT training almost word for word... nothing new really (he sure did not invent it...) MANDT is a type of restaining therapy which only uses retraining as a last resort...

Bryan was repremanded by Oklahoma State Board of Social Work... you can look that up pretty easy.. for calling himself a Dr. when he really is not

If his program works so great, why does he need a group home in Virginia?

I wish someone would have been telling me about the actually "therapy" before being put through that ordeal

[hrisme]

<<treatment consisted of being held on an air mat for 3 days to cry about what ever reason I was insane enought to bring someone elses damaged good into my home... >>

I didn't know about this aspect of Post's treatment, having never been directly involved in the "institute's" program. Makes me glad I didn't go to the seminar I was considering!

<<Bryan's method is MANDT training almost word for word... nothing new really (he sure did not invent it...) MANDT is a type of restaining therapy which only uses retraining as a last resort...>>

Haven't heard of MANDT, but will look it up. I don't personally approve of "restraining" for therapy, only if it is for safety purposes. Didn't know Post advocated for that either. It's certainly not mentioned on his website! I don't remember any form of restraint being mentioned in his book either.

<<Bryan was repremanded by Oklahoma State Board of Social Work... you can look that up pretty easy.. for calling himself a Dr. when he really is not>>

I also wasn't aware that he is not a doctor! On the website he is listed as Dr. Post! MAJOR red flag. I guess that means I can provide therapeutic interventions to children with RAD, because I've gone through it myself and developed my own theories on how to deal with it? Maybe I should change from offering preschool services to offering therapy services. I could certainly charge more for it.

Thanks for sharing this information.

[somedaymom]

I'm a therapist, have heard of it, and have a good opinion of it. As for the techniques, I'm only vaguely familiar. What specifically were you wondering about?

[Sheriv]

There are several schools of thought out there. Bryan Post from where I come from was not high on the list when it comes to Attachment specific therapy. Daniel Hughes and Nancy Thomas are more known in my community. You have the whole ATTach and the Evergreen Institute. I personally think that you have to be prepared to do the whole "Holding Therapy" and this should be done in a supervised environment as touch and closeness to the attachment disordered child is synonomous w/abuse as it physically hurts them to be held/touched not on their terms. My son howled like a wild animal when I tried this, even w/a bottle and I felt physically sick afterwards and would never try this again without assistance and probably not even with it....

There should be more training I think for therapists or more therapists with expertise in this field.

My three cents.......

[rubymama]

I don't visit here very often, but I'm always amazed at the attacks on Bryan Post. I became aware of his techniques a couple of years ago when I read the book he co-authored with Heather Forbes. Like me, Heather adopted two children from Eastern Europe. I was at my wits end, an angry mom. That book put me on a path to change my life.

I've struggled with my daughter's trauma and attachment issues for more than 6 years now. This parenting style, while I don't do it perfectly, is the best I've tried. The results have been amazing.

My son also had some anxiety issues and the techniques from this book helped so much.

I'm particularly surprised by the comments above about restraining and or retraining. Frankly, the sentences don't make any sense to me, and I'm not sure if there are typos, but Bryan Post doesn't advocate restraining at all.

As to why he'd need a group home, that's a strange comment in my opinion. One man can't treat every kid in the world who needs it. Heaven knows there's many who need it. And heaven knows there are many parents who need the help a group home might provide. So to criticize his methods because he offers this service? Whatever.

I've recently purchased some materials in addition to the book. I've been listening to audio of Bryan Post. I gotta tell you, he makes alot of sense. I also participate in the yahoo group about the Beyond Consequences approach and there are more than 600 people who are on that group, and it's a hugely helpful resource.

A cult??? Whatever.

Questions about his credentials? I could care less--it works.

[rindava]

Mandt training does not advocate restraining.. they no longer do floor restaining, etc... it is a way to de-esculate situations before the child gets so out of control someone gets hurt...

If the program works so great for you, is your child cured as promissed.. did you ever attend a boot camp, group intensive, family intensive with the man???

Anyone who has, what went on there????

sure, he got a good talking game going... he is a gifted speaker...

these 600 members, were the signed up from any event they went to??? he is know to create lists like that..

Why does he need a group home? Any reasonable person, according to him, who can regulate themselves his way, can cure their child.. why he asking for money for his for profit group home that he gets at least $200 per day per child there??? He has been able to set up a good little business here in Virginia

I think the AT boat in general has missed the fact that many of these children are brain damaged from the prenatal drug and alcohol abuse, etc...

Like I have said before, from what I know of Heather, maybe she is the one behind most of that book...

I just wish someone would have told me, before getting involved in the cult.. which was very much what the boot camps are like... someone would have said..

Not Scientifically proven... guy has no real credintals... etc...

[rubymama]

Ever hear of the quote: "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you always got!" Well, that's been my experience with Nancy Thomas and other control-based parenting styles. No, truthfully, my child is not healed, but yes, there has been progress, much progress, in ways that we never saw with other techniques. And there's a consistent message that I hear from Dr. Bruce Perry, Caryn Purvis and some other new thinkers in this arena.

So, clearly, it's more than just talk from a "gifted speaker".

And the 600+--one by one signed up by word of mouth. They hear what it's about, they like it (who wouldn't want to leave behind the anger and hostility that you hear from so many RAD parents). One of the best things is that people on this yahoo group speak of their kids, even with their struggles, with LOVE and HOPE. Not the thinly-veiled blame and hatred I read from many parents, who are understandably frustrated at their lack of progress and yet so afraid to try what works.

But do whatever works for you. All the best!