EMDR and Family Therapy Integrative Model: Treatment for Attachment Trauma in Children is a research-based program for children with a history of attachment disruptions and/or trauma who are exhibiting behaviors associated with Reactive Attachment Disorder. The child and parent(s) attend twice weekly therapy, once with a family therapist and once with a trauma therapist for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). The parent(s) are also required to attend a 5-week FACT class (Facilitating Attachment in Adopted Children Training). Parents complete a packet of assessments prior to beginning therapy, and again every 12 weeks. When the child achieves nonclinical scores on two of the measures, the therapy is reduced to once per week. Therapy continues to reduce in frequency until discharge as the child’s scores improve. Three months after discharge, parents are asked to complete a follow-up assessment packet to make sure gains have been maintained.

FACT is a five week parenting course that will empower parents of adopted children with effective techniques to improve relationships with their challenging children. The goal is for parents to learn new parenting techniques to increase the love and laughter in their daily lives.

FACT meets on 5 successive Saturdays for 2 hours. The class is designed to assist parents in:

• dentifying the root of their children’s misbehaviors
• Learning effective methods to calm reactive and misbehaving children
• Strengthening parent-child bonds
• Identifying the impact of past trauma on the parent-child relationship
• Healing the hurt child through attunement, nurturing messages, and comforting touch
• Facilitating attunement between caregivers and children

The FACT class is an important part of our STTAT-C program but is open to any parents in adoptive, foster, or guardianship situations.

Download .pdf brochure for more information and registration »

ATCN offers Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) following a model developed by Marsha Linehan, Ph.D. at the University of Seattle in Seattle, WA.

DBT is a comprehensive, cognitive-behavioral treatment for individuals who experience difficulty managing their emotions, who sometimes participate in self-destructive behaviors, and often live in chaotic/unstable relationships. DBT has been found useful with a wide range of problems including substance abuse, binge eating, depression, and anxiety. The dialectical approach helps individuals replace rigid, black and white thinking with a more balanced approach to their problems. ATCN offers both teen and adult DBT programs.

Download the DBT (Dialectal Behavioral Therapy)
brochure »

18 week skill building experience. Thursday 5:30 - 7:00pm

Specially designed for teens (aged 13-18) and their families struggling with:

• Long-standing interpersonal difficulties
• Aggressive behavior toward others
• Self-harming or suicidal thoughts/behaviors
• Difficulty managing emotions
• Shame and self-directed anger
• Helplessness and hopelessness

Download the DBT for Teens Group
brochure »

At the Attachment and Trauma Center of Nebraska, we view attunement, relationship, and trauma resolution as the keys to healing children exhibiting RAD behaviors. We believe RAD behaviors are rooted in fear and driven by negative beliefs related to past traumas and disrupted attachments. The EMDR Integrative Team Model training teaches a team approach to help affected children and their families, which includes a weekly session with a Family Therapist, a weekly session with an EMDR (trauma resolution) Therapist, and a five-week class (Facilitating Attachment in Adopted Children – Training Class) for parents.

We are committed to providing quality training for clinicians interested in the “family therapy/EMDR trauma treatment” integrated model for treating children suffering from the effects of attachment trauma (STTAT-C). We believe that observation of the therapy is vital for clinicians wishing to implement the approach. To that effect, we now have a secure website available for practitioners involved in monthly group phone consultation who wish to view on-going, monthly updated videos of therapy taking place here at The Attachment and Trauma Center of Nebraska. Sign up for a Phone Consultation and Video Therapy Observation.