Several months ago I was tweeting about a book I was reading and finding particularly useful: Attachment-Focused Parenting by the American Child Psychologist Dan Hughes. Every community of people bound by an experience has its heroes and Dan Hughes is a hero to many of those living and working with the child survivors of neglect and abuse. His work provides an oasis amongst the scrap yard of chronic misunderstanding.
A tweeter replied,
‘He’s speaking at our conference. Would you like to come?’
It was the best offer I’d had in a while.
The hall was packed with psychologists. An optimism of psychologists might be an appropriate collective noun. They were welcoming and friendly. There was a sprinkling of adopters and foster carers. We looked like we had been let out on day release.
Dan Hughes showed some DVD clips to illustrate his approach. He is relentlessly curious with the children he works with, does not judge or blame, shows them that he gets why they are so angry with the hand life has dealt them, and then bravely steps into what has become for the child and often the adults around them, a no man’s land – the past. He helps children to make sense of their lives, gifts them with an alternative narrative which counters their own ‘I am bad’ toxic interpretation.
The day was great but one thing gnawed at me. My ongoing experience of adoption is one of sparse support. Here I was amongst a roomful of several hundred psychologists and therapists. Where do they work? Why have I never come across them before? There were two other eminent speakers; Colwyn Trevarthan and Graham Music. They talked of work going on within the NHS where no one said ‘children are very robust’ nor ‘all we can offer is a prescription for ADHD medication’ nor ‘here’s my invoice’. Have I just not fought hard enough I wondered.
I took the opportunity to ask Dan Hughes a question. I outlined our struggles and asked for advice.
Dan’s response was useful and helped me to mentally pull myself out of the mire. But he mentioned the need for therapeutic support.
‘I have to say that the only therapeutic support we receive is what we pay for privately,’ I said, my voice bumping over a clot of emotion.
There were open mouths and a chasm of hopelessness engulfed the room. I felt bad for raining on the parade. But these things have to be said. As we packed up to go home other adopters approached me. It was no surprise that they were telling stories with the same themes; vulnerable and hurt children, traumatised carers, lack of support. I wish we had had more time to talk.
I understand there are signs the government’s adoption reforms might be slowing now that the measures and scorecards are being put into place. It is not so easy to measure human struggle in black and white terms, less easy still for the worn down to prove that they need help. For me it’s a no-brainer but I think I can guess where this is going.
Thanks to everyone I met yesterday. It was a joy to be amongst you all!
Well done, you. I agree wholeheartedly, there is no little support. Sometime I want to scream from the rooftops.
Hang in there Sally!
Sally I was there too!! We didn’t get a chance to talk on the day but I TOTALLY agree. So much so that I’ve created a programme for adoptive parents on how to be resilient as a parent – it’s early days as it’s in a pilot phase but going really well. I know from my experience with our three that the journey is relentless and whilst there’s not much help for the children there’s next to nothing for us. My programme is solely about building up our own resilience so that we can help our children. I’ve found that reading and hearing people like Dan Hughes is brilliant but actually implementing the strategies when you are exhausted and stressed is another thing.
Anyway just wanted to say hi and that I’m another one who can say there’s little support out there. If you want to connect more go to my website for my blog or connect on facebook.
I will definitely have a look at your blog and if you could develop some resilience tablets or an injection that would be great. You are right on the money – the strategies work but it is extremely testing to live by them day in, day out.
Searching for Dan Hughes and associated content and found your blog post. You sounded so frustrated at the time. Since this date and realising there maybe more help out there have things changed dramatically for you?
I ask as we’re starting our journey and people like you (thankfully/sadly) paving the way for us coming through the system now. It seems adoption and emotional /attachment/trauma support is now better – or is that just my perception?
Ps Dan Hughes sounds amazing, whats the best thing you’ve learnt from him?
Things are much better for us now and that’s down to a combination of some good support and some great courses. Support is still patchy around the country and so I would advise anyone considering adoption to shop around and find an LA or agency which offers good quality post adoption support.
The therapeutic methods of Dan Hughes have made a significant difference to our children and I’ve learned a lot from him. His great strength I think is in helping us to really understand what lies behind our children’s behaviours and to approach them with compassion and empathy.
Good luck with your adoption journey.