By Arthur Becker-Weidman, Ph.D.

Click here to contact Arthur and/or see his GoodTherapy.org Profile

DYADIC DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOTHERAPY is a treatment approach to trauma, neglect, loss, and/or other dysregulating experiences that is based on principles derived from Attachment Theory and Research.

DYADIC DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOTHERAPY involves creating a safe setting in which the client can begin to explore, resolve, and integrate a wide range of memories, emotions, and current experiences, that are frightening, stressful, avoided or denied. Safety is created by insuring that this exploration occurs with nonverbal attunement, reflectivenonjudgmentaldialogue, along with empathy and reassurance. As the process unfolds, the client is creating a coherent lifestoryor autobiographical narrativewhich is crucial for attachment security and is a strong protective factor against psychopathology. Therapeutic progress occurs within the joint activities of coregulating affect and coconstructing meaning. (more…)

By: Barrington H. Brennen

Click here to contact Barrington and/or see his GoodTherapy.org Profile

Question: Dear Sir: I have a wonderful mother. She and my father are now retirees, each having worked for more than 40 years for the Government. My mother is always kind and helpful. She has a warm heart and gentle spirit. However, I’ve discovered that she finds it difficult to say no, especially when it comes to taking care of her grand children. Some of my siblings are taking advantage of her generosity by using her as their full-time baby sitter, which I notice makes her overly tired at times. At the age of 78, those energetic grand children are running around her in circles, leaving her breathless at times. I’ve noticed that she is more tired during the week than rested. But mom would not give up. It this right? Should we over work our grand mothers? Should we use our grand parents as full-time baby sitters? I want my parents to enjoy their retirement to the fullest, but I believe that the baby sitting is getting in the way. (more…)

By: Sam Schaperow, MSMFT, LMFT

Psychotherapy has some of the highest no-show and cancellation rates in the healthcare industry. People often have anxiety going to therapy because they fear being judged, or they feel that they can or should solve their problems on their own. It may take a major crisis or many years of problems that won’t go away before making that initial call to a therapist. Many people then will go only if the therapist can accommodate special times, such as only early evenings, and take their insurance, even if it means that the quality of service might be compromised by the insurer’s policies. Additionally, the therapist’s location, gender, phone friendliness, and age can be factors that people use to determine who to see. All these criteria can severely limit the prospective client’s chances of even starting therapy, never mind continuing. (more…)