Attachment, Separation, and Multigenerational Loss in Young Children in the Foster Care System: A Mentalization-Based Approach to Treatment

ABSTRACT

Therapists who work with very young and deeply troubled children stand on the shoulders of Anni Bergman, expanding her vision to ongoing work. This paper will describe a program of dyadic treatment for caregivers and young children in the foster care system, for whom multiple generations of trauma have prevented secure attachment and therefore disrupted the development of the confidence and trust needed for rapprochement and future ego development in the children. The program is based on concepts of Attachment and Mentalization, which are branches of the same tree as Bergman’s pioneering work with Mahler and Pine on separation and individuation and Bergman’s career-long exploration of the inner world of children during toddlerhood. Clinical examples will be presented of work with two children first seen at less than two years of age.

KEYWORDS:

• Attachment
• separation
• foster care
• mentalization
• dyadic treatment

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Phyllis Cohen, PhD, ABPP, Andrea Remez, PhD, and Barbara Gerson, PhD, for their support of the treatments presented here as consultants in the Building Blocks program at New Alternatives for Children.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jill Bellinson

Jill Bellinson, PhD, is a graduate and faculty of the William Alanson White Institute, where she was one of the founders of the Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Training Program. She supervises at Adelphi University Post-Graduate Training Program, Manhattan Institute Trauma Training Program, Metropolitan Institute for Training in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Program, and the clinical psychology doctoral program of the City University of New York. She is training and supervising consultant to New Alternatives for Children and maintains a private practice for children and adults in New York City.

Ashley Golub

Ashley Golub, PsyD, is a licensed psychologist and the Director of Psychological Services at New Alternatives for Children (NAC). She is the agency director of the Building Blocks program. Dr. Golub is also in private practice in Brooklyn, NY.

Tory O’Dwyer

Tory O’ Dwyer, LMSW, is a psychotherapist at New Alternatives for Children in New York City. A recent graduate from Smith College School for Social Work, she is working toward her LCSW and practicing trauma-informed, strengths-based clinical work with children, caregivers, and families.

Amy Pacifici

Amy Pacifici, LCSW-R, Currently serves as a Faculty Instructor and Clinical Supervisor at the William Alanson White Training Institute, Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Program. She also serves as an Adjunct Professor at Fordham University, Graduate School of Social Service. She has a fulltime private practice in NYC, working with children, adolescents, and adults.

Danielle Sessler

Danielle Sessler, PsyD, is licensed clinical psychologist. She maintains a private practice in Manhattan, New York, and works with children, adults, and families. Dr. Sessler previously worked as a supervising psychologist at New Alternatives for Children, as well as an adjunct clinical supervisor to students at Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology.

Lisa Wolfe

Lisa Wolfe, LCSW-R, is a psychotherapist and supervisor at New Alternatives for Children and is in private practice in New York City. She completed her training in child and adolescent psychodynamic psychotherapy at New Hope Guild.