ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of the research on trauma, attachment, and treatment. An introduction to the rationale for an attachment focus when working with traumatized families is discussed, as well as the effectiveness of play therapy and expressive arts. Over the last several decades, mental health professionals have increased their knowledge of the neurobiology of relationships and trauma. This increase in the understanding of how our brain plays a role in our behavior and in our relationships has helped therapists become more grounded in research when developing and implementing treatment models with their clients, especially traumatized clients. Play therapy has been utilized by therapists for decades and has been shown to be an effective modality to help children resolve their mental health problems. Integrating parents as well as other family members into the treatment process has been shown to improve outcomes. Attachment therapists have used neurobiology to guide their work with traumatized and attachment disordered clients. A brief overview of the treatment model for working with traumatized children and their families will be presented to introduce the basic structure and rationale for integrating play therapy and expressive arts—with a focus on neurobiology.
