[theramman]

Much like many other cases you might have read, our adoptive son was mis-diagnosed with ADHD/ODD with a note of "maybe" RAD because I had brought it up to diagonistian.... Well, living in the far Northwestern suburbs of Chicago have found that there seems to be NO attachment counselors in the area and proceeded to seek the help of a highly respected counselor in the more immediate Chicago area.... The counselor was very understanding and even attended a RAD seminar with us, but has not been able to provide the type of counseling that is required. So now, my wife and I are departly seeking an attachment counselor somewhere in the area to help us before we fall apart. Anyone here with a similar story, but with a good answer?

[HappyMomAnna]

We had a horrible time finding anyone in our area who would even say the word 'attachment'. A few weeks ago I read about a new requirement that mandated 10% of the psychologist needed post graduate study in Adoption Attachment. The ONLY program in the state that offered the education was at one university. It was a two year program and the first class finished about 3-weeks ago.

I contacted the university and asked for a referal to a student who was in the program and/or acceptance as a case study or ANYTHING!!! They gave me a referal and I am so excited! She is an adoptive parent of four children placed at older ages and has fostered 16 other children. SHe told me that until she finished her class she was NOT allowed to provide therapy for adopted children in attachment--but that she could with Foster Children.

Attachment therapy like many other kinds of therapy has had its hard start in some cases. Some states put some very clear regulations in place and made it difficult for therapy to function.

Try calling your universities and asking you county and state DHS office for assistance. Attachment therapy is different then any other kind of therapy and families need the state to help us get there.

Good luck

[lucyjoy]

There are attachment therapists that travel that may help train someone local while working with your child. It can be very expensive, though. You may want to look up www.radzebra.org as the founder currantly lives in Ill and may know someone.
Nancy Thomas has list of therapist by location at www.attachment.org and there are professionals listed at www.Attach.org I would start there. If there is noone in your area, contact the closest person and they may know of someone.

[theramman]

Still, how odd is it that one of the largest cities in the country does NOT have any attachment counselors in the area??? Rockford or Quincy does not count..... Does no one else find this strange? Even stranger..... We attended a seminar in Gurnee, IL. about this time last year that dealt with RAD, but yet still no counselors in the area????

[lucyjoy]

I've found many large cities do not have attachment trained therapists. I think it makes no sense, but maybe they have enough clients that they do not feel the need to persue specialties. I think like parents, a therapist really has to have the heart to do this type of therapy.

[theramman]

Thankfully, for some reason, the Milwaukee area has 1000% more attachment therapists than Chicago.... Hate to drive that far, but heck, traffic won't be as bad.....

[Linny]

I live downstate, and we have had attachment therapy with a trained attachment therapist. Unfortunately, our son did not want to heal, and his case was severe enough he no longer lives in our home. Still, I know that our therapist keeps up with this stuff...and continues to provide therapy to children with RAD. While being downstate would hinder your involvement with her, I know she networks and would be able to provide you with someone who might know, or someone who provides attachment therapy too.
Please feel free to pm me for this info.

Sincerely,

Linny

[bfrost2]

Dear Linn,

Do you have the name of the attachment counselor that you mentioned in Central Illinois?
Thank you.

Barbara

[bfrost2]

Dear Linny,

Do you have the name of the attachment counselor that you mentioned in Central Illinois?
Thank you.

Barbara

[riley6]

http://www.attachment.org/states/il.htm

[AmberNVesh]

I was adopted at the age of two and experience chronic RAD. Unfortunately there was no treatment in the 70's for this. I have since studied various treatments for RAD. To my dismay there is little information, however I have come up with concepts that helped me. I would introduce a small kitten. They are very non-threatening and generally do not frighten a small child. When the flight or fight response is stimulated early in life attachment disorders occur due to "threatening" situations. Remember we are all animals first, emotions are secondary. We as humans do what naturally comes first, and that is survival. The instinct pops-up contstantly sending the message "danger", "danger", "danger". This is uncontrollable to a child. Many small steps of having them attach to smaller animals, dolls, etc. before you due to your size are very helpful. Good luck!

[lucyjoy]

Children with RAD do sometimes kill animals so not sure I'd go that way. Also, RAD is caused by poor care curing the first three years of life and neglect is more often the cause rather then trauma although being neglected could be traumatic. PTSD causes the exagerated fight/flight response rather then the RAD itself. However, many kids with RAD also suffer from PTSD.