Attachment in the care of people with a visual and intellectual disability:
theory and practice
Presented on Friday, 13th June, 2014
Content
The morning session covered:
- an introduction on the relationship between stress and attachment, the importance of developing an attachment relationship will be explained;
- recent developments regarding assessment of disorders of attachment;
- assessment based on scientific research and practical experience in the field of care for children and adolescents with a visual and/or intellectual disability.
The afternoon session covered interventions for daily care as well as psychotherapy in specially needed situations:
- the development of attachment relationship with persons with profound intellectual disabilities;
- the treatment of separation anxiety for persons with a moderate intellectual disability;
- the Therapy for Attachment and Behaviour (ITAB) was illustrated.
ITAB has been developed specifically for the treatment of children with a visual and severe intellectual disability with disordered attachment, with severe and persistent behavioural problems who do not respond to regular therapies.
Target Audience: Educational psychologists, Occupational Therapists, practitioners working with children and adults who are blind or partially sighted and with an intellectual disability; those working with children and adults with severe and profound intellectual disabilities.
Presenters: Dr Paula Sterkenburg, Assistant Professor, VU University Amsterdam and Clinical Psychologist, Bartimeus, The Netherlands.
Link: Participants were invited to play this game prior to attending: www.theworldofempa.org (open the game in Firefox or Chrome).
Programme
10.30 am - Introduction on the relationship between stress and attachment
The risk factors which can play a role in developing a secure attachment relationship with children with disabilities
Recent developments regarding assessment of disorders of attachment
1.30 pm - Interventions for daily care as well as psychotherapy in specially needed situations
- the development of attachment relationship with persons with profound intellectual disabilities
- the treatment of separation anxiety for persons with a moderate intellectual disability
- the Therapy for Attachment and Behaviour (ITAB)
3.45 pm - Course evaluation and close