Caroline Archer is an adoptive parent, an independent consultant in post-adoption support and a therapeutic parent mentor. She is also the bestselling author of Reparenting the Child who Hurts: A Guide to Healing Developmental Trauma and Attachment, First Steps in Parenting a Child who Hurts: Tiddlers and Toddlers 2nd Edition, and Next Steps in Parenting a Child who Hurts: Tykes and Teens (with Christine Gordon). Christine Gordon is an adoptive parent with many years' experience of working with adoptive and foster families. She was a co-founder of Family Futures Consortium, London. Alongside her 'hands on' supportive role to parents, she is active in training and promoting the professional role of parent mentor as an integral part of the therapeutic team. Helen Jury is an Art Psychotherapist and Supervisor in Independent Practice, UK, working with adults and children, groups and individuals, clinical training patients and referrals from agencies and organisations, and at University College London (UCL) gathering data for PhD doctoral research. Helen is an Associate Editor of the International Journal of Art Therapy. Helen co-edited 'Art Therapy in Museums and Galleries - Reframing Practice' with Ali Coles, also published by Jessica Kingsley.

Haven't we always known that relationships are at the heart of the human experience? But what happens when the primal attachment doesn't happen as it should? Before we are rational beings, we are sensual beings. Trauma happens at the sensual, emotional level and thus doesn't lend itself to reflection and rational responses. This book recognizes and addresses this in an easy to understand manner. This work is amazing in that, not only has it included the emotional, neurobiological, psychological, and social developmental wounds inherent in attachment deficits, but it has done an exceptional job of demonstrating this understanding in a variety of different scenarios. This makes the book a treasure for anyone who works with children: parents, teachers, physicians, psychologists, social workers, lawyers and the "adult children" themselves who want to understand their reactions to their own childhood experiences. There are so many exciting things to say about this book, it would take another book to list them all. I would just say that if I were to recommend any book on the subject of how attachment affects children as well as excellent suggestions for healing, this is the book.

• Foreword. David Howe, University of East Anglia. Introduction. Caroline Archer, independent consultant and therapeutic parent mentor, Charlotte Drury, Chair of Attachment Network Wales and Jude Hills. Part 1 Introductory Narrative: Hurt, Humour and Persistence. 1. 'Jolly Walking': How Social workers Can Support Poorly Attached Children and Their Caregivers Effectively . Victoria Drury, social worker. Part 2. Educational Narratives: Understanding, Nurturing and Transitions. 2. The Message Behind the Behaviour: Understanding Attachment in the Classroom. Emma Birch, PhD student, University of Edinburgh. 3. Nurturing the Educational Environment: Creating Safe Space for Children to Learn. Ann Cartwright, teacher and author. 4. 'No,no,no, Mummy. I Don't Want to go to Nursery!': Traumatic Transitions from Home to School. Marie Martin. Part 3. Therapeutic Narratives: Moving, Mentoring, Partnerships and Patience. 5. 'Not Again Little Owl': Transitions from Foster Care to Adoption . Viv Norris, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Certified Theraplay® Therapist and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) Practitioner. 6. Developmental Trauma and Attachment: An Integrative Therapeutic Approach . Lisa Waycott, Clinical Director of Stepping Stones (Child Therapy Consultants) Ltd and Senior Lecturer, University of South Wales, Claire Carbiss, Play Therapist, Stepping Stones (Child Therapy Consultants) Ltd and Karen McInness, University of South Wales and Stepping Stones (Child Therapy Consultants) Ltd. 7. 'Smile Though Your Heart is Breaking': Therapeutic Parent Mentoring for 'Good Kids' and Their Families. Caroline Archer, independent consultant and therapeutic parent mentor. 8. Getting the Right FIT: The Team as a Secure Base for Supporting Families - Helen O'Shea, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and Elaine Simpson, Action for Children. 9. 'Slowly Undoing': A Case Study from a Residential Setting. Jonny Matthew, Youth Justice Board and Tricia Skuse, Wales Forensic Adolescent Consultation and Treatment (FACT). Part 4. Legal Narrative: Assessments and Court Reports. 10. Beyond Feeding and Watering: Trauma and Attachment-based Court Assessments. Christine Gordon, Family Futures Consortium. Part 5. Personal Narratives: Pain, Persistence and Growth. 11. Through Prison Walls: Strengthening Adult Attachments from the Outside In. Hannah Fryer. 12. Mending Hearts: The Lasting Effects of Early Surgical Trauma. Jane McNamara, counsellor, play therapist and writer. 13. Holding on and Letting Go: Bereavement and the Bonds of Attachment, An Adoptee's Perspective. Tamara Gordon, producer and director. Part 6. Closing Narrative: Expression and Exploration. 14. 'And If You Have No Words for It?': An Exploration of Attachment Issues Through Art Therapy . Helen Jury, Art Psychotherapist, Course Leader MA Art Psychotherapy, University South Wales. Index. Glossary. References.