Abstract

Bringing together the latest research and theory about a child's inner world and the impact of the world around them, this is a guide to understanding and responding to the emotional needs of traumatised children.

Founded on the principle that traumatised children do not have a secure sense of self and therefore cannot relate to the outside world without becoming overwhelmed, this book brings psychoanalytic and psychodynamic understandings of child psychology together with current neuroscience and trauma theory. At the heart of the book is an attachment-informed assessment model and guidance for treatment.

Professionals working therapeutically with traumatised children, including therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, mental health workers, social workers and residential care workers, will benefit from the wealth of knowledge and valuable practice guidance presented in this book.

Christine Bradley draws on her lifetime of experience of working with troubled children to demonstrate the continuing value of psychoanalytic insight today. Her messages, particularly of the importance of good quality supervision and consultation, need to be read by all those who are responsible for children in public care.
John Drew, former Chief Executive of the Youth Justice Board

Christine Bradley is a psychotherapist who has 40 years' experience working with vulnerable children and young people, in therapeutic communities, local authorities and organisations both nationally and internationally. She is also a consultant and trainer for organisations in residential care and fostering and adoption agencies.
Francia Kinchington is a Principal Lecturer and Teaching Fellow at the University of Greenwich in the Faculty of Education and Health. She is a consultant with international expertise in leading and managing change and an experienced doctoral supervisor and examiner in the fields of education, psychology and health.

This very special book sums up the learning and deep insights from a lifetime's experience in helping some of the most deeply troubled children and young people in the country, and supporting and teaching those looking after these children. It is packed with fascinating vignettes and case studies, and will be immensely useful for staff and students working with traumatised children and their families in a wide range of settings.
Adrian Ward, formerly of the Tavistock Clinic and author of 'Leadership in Residential Child Care: A Relationship-based Approach'
For all of us, an integrated and coherent sense of self embedded in both history and experience is fundamental to who we are. For some young people, there is a serious challenge in being able to answer this question when abuse, neglect and trauma have invaded their lives. Throughout a lifetime of experience, in this book Christine Bradley sets out how these issues might be addressed to re-build a sense of self that is sustaining and meaningful and above all humane. Nothing could be more important in addressing the current issues for professionals in seeking inspiration and hope in the work that they do.
John Simmonds, OBE, Director of Policy, Research and Development, CoramBAAF