Toddler Adoption: The Weaver's Craft Book

Before purchasing this book, I would suggest reading up on some of the practices the author recommends. As she writes, "I am an advocate of using therapeutic holding with a rejecting child, and recommend the process described by Dr. Martha Welch".

Children have died from this kind of therapy. "International attention was attracted to the problem of HT (holding therapy) in 2000 when a 10-year-old American girl died in the course of treatment. Other deaths, caused by parents following the advice of therapists, have been less well publicized" (International Concerns About Holding Therapy, John Mercer).

"The American Professional Society on Abuse of Children (APSAC) mounted a task force to investigate the use of HT and published a report (Chaffin et al., 2006) rejecting the use of the treatment or related methods" (Mercer).

Ms. Hopkins-Best herself writes in her book that "Intrusive therapy involves physical and verbal provocation to bring out the child's feelings of loss, pain, rage, helplessness, and hopelessness...During the entire process, the designated body holders restrain the child to emphasize that they are in charge."

Jan Hunt writes in The Dangers of Holding Therapy: "It is human nature to resent and resist the use of force. The use of forced holding by a parent will inevitably engender strong feelings of fear, confusion, helplessness, anger, and betrayal as the child's natural attempts to break free are disregarded by those they have come to love and trust...the child finally understands that freedom comes only by giving in to outside control - a dangerous lesson to give to a young child... Imposing any action by force on a child, who is in no position to make an informed choice, is unconscionable. Even if there were an emotional "breakthrough", it would be at a great hidden cost, as there is no way to avoid the child's feelings of anger, frustration, resentment, and betrayal."

Ms. Linda Rosa, RN, states it best: "Attachment Therapy is the worst quackery in our nation today. To our most vulnerable children ' adoptive, foster and minority children ' 'Attachment (Holding) Therapy' and 'Therapeutic Parenting' means nothing less than a childhood of relentless torture. How is inflicting fear, pain, humiliation, bizarre notions of reality, threats, forced intimacy, and isolation from friends and family ' how is all this expected to lead a child to trust, love, and be happy? We do know it has led to death."


Sources:

(article by Hopkins-Best)

(International Concerns About Holding Therapy, John Mercer)

(with some of the known abuse and death cases)

More resources:
(Holding Therapy and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy Are Not Supported and Acceptable Social Work Interventions: A Systematic Research Synthesis Revisited)