The Family Attachment Narrative Therapy Intensive was created to help children and adolescents rebuild these foundational connections and experience the healing relationships they needed early in life.
Early relationships shape the foundation of a child’s emotional, social, and neurological development. In the first months and years of life, children depend completely on caregivers to meet their basic needs for safety, comfort, and nourishment. When these needs are met consistently and with warmth, children develop a secure attachment -building trust, resilience, and healthy pathways for future growth.
But when early caregiving is disrupted by abuse, neglect, trauma, or significant instability, these foundational building blocks can be compromised. Children who have experienced early maltreatment may struggle with attachment, emotional regulation, and behavior - even many years later. Their challenges are not a sign of “bad behavior,” but rather a reflection of early wounds that were never fully healed.
This intensive program is designed for children and adolescents ages 3 to 21 who are experiencing the long-term effects of early trauma, disrupted attachment, or maltreatment. Many of these children display patterns such as:
Withdrawal or emotional shut-down
Clinginess or extreme dependence
High anxiety or fearfulness
Aggression, tantrums, or violent behavior
Defiance, oppositional behavior, or destructiveness
Difficulty trusting adults or forming healthy relationships
Attention and regulation challenges
Meaningful and lasting behavioral change occurs only when the underlying attachment, trauma, and developmental needs are addressed—this is the focus of our work.
Who This Program is For
Every family begins with a comprehensive assessment to determine the child’s history, current symptoms, strengths, and therapeutic needs. If the Family Attachment Narrative Therapy Intensive is recommended, the family engages in:
2–3 hours of therapy daily
Over a two-week period
Working closely with a dedicated team of trained attachment therapists
Toward the end of the intensive, families receive specific and individualized recommendations for continued care. This may include weekly therapy, further attachment work, neurological reorganization, or other supportive services within our clinic.
Program Overview
Our method is gentle and deeply relational, while still being intensive and transformative. The foundation of this model is the belief that parents are the primary agents of healing, and that children heal best within safe, attuned, and nurturing relationships.
Our therapists guide parents to understand the child’s internal world—what drives their behavior, what they fear, what they long for—and how to respond in ways that promote safety and connection. Parents are trained to create structured narratives that help the child rewrite the emotional meaning of their early experiences.
Our Therapeutic Approach
Each child’s treatment includes 4 individualized narratives created collaboratively by parents and therapists
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Claiming Narrative
Affirms that the child has always been lovable, valued, and deserving of care, while introducing family identity, history, and belonging.
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Developmental Narrative
Helps the child progress through developmental stages that may have been missed or interrupted due to early trauma.
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Trauma Narrative
Gently addresses past traumatic events and guides the child toward new, healing interpretations of what occurred - reducing shame and fear.
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Successful Child Narrative
Builds positive core beliefs and reinforces healthy behaviors, emotional regulation, and personal strengths.
Depending on the child’s needs, therapists may integrate complementary modalities such as:
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
Audio-Visual Entrainment (AVE)
Neurological Reorganization
Non-directive Play Therapy
Individual or Family Counseling
Combining narrative therapy with these evidence-based tools allows children to experience healing on emotional, cognitive, and neurological levels.
Additional Therapeutic Techniques
The Family Attachment Narrative Therapy Intensive provides children and their caregivers with a powerful opportunity to repair early emotional wounds, rebuild trust, and restore a secure sense of connection. With guidance, attuned support, and structured healing experiences, parents can offer the nurturing their child needed in early life - and the child can move toward a healthier, more hopeful future.
If you believe your child may benefit from the Family Attachment Narrative Therapy Intensive, we’re here to help.
Contact us today to speak with a therapist and learn whether this program is the right next step for your family.