ABSTRACT
When addressing the impact of intergenerational transmission of trauma, it is important to treat the parent–child relationship in order to strengthen the attachment bond, while providing a healthy and safe environment for parents to heal and become a “good-enough mothers.” Child–Parent Psychotherapy is an evidence-based relationship intervention to help young children, birth to five years old, and their caregivers after exposure to trauma. During the assessment and engagement phase, the clinician works closely in establishing a trusting relationship with the caregiver to gather information that will be the driving force of the treatment process. In gathering information from the child’s perspective, several instruments are utilized to capture both developmental concerns and issues relating to the child’s exposure to trauma that have affected the attachment relationship. The clinician is faced with many emotions that often become overwhelming at times due to the complexities of the parent’s trauma, substance histories, and its impact on the child.
