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Attachment-Based Intervention Strategies in Family Therapy with Survivors of Intra-Familial Trauma: A Case Study

Journal of Family Violence volume 29, pages 539–548 (2014)Cite this article

Abstract

There is little research to date on the role of sibling relationships in mitigating attachment-related trauma. This paper is a clinical case study that illustrates the therapeutic process involved in working with siblings as well as the parent–child dyad, following a history of intra-familial trauma. We present an attachment-based treatment approach that recognizes and makes clinical use of a secure sibling attachment system. The process of facilitating therapeutic change in children with an insecure attachment style in relation to their parents, contrasted with a relatively secure sibling attachment system, is discussed. The implications of improved parent–child relationships on family outcomes, as well as on sibling relationships, are also explored.

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Notes

  1. The term “avoidant” will be used throughout the paper to refer to avoidant, dismissing, or dismissing-avoidant attachment.

  2. For this case, the first author (M.F.) was the therapist, working under the supervision of the second author (R.M.).

  3. The concept of sharing “by proxy” refers to the phenomenon of a child being more likely, in the initial stages of therapy, to share traumatic memories on behalf of their sibling, instead of about their own experience.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kindercare Pediatrics, Toronto, Canada

    Mirisse F. Foroughe

  2. Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health, York University, 700 Keele St, Toronto, Canada, M3J 1P3

    Robert T. Muller

  3. University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    Robert T. Muller

Authors
  1. Mirisse F. Foroughe
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  2. Robert T. Muller
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Correspondence to Mirisse F. Foroughe.

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Foroughe, M.F., Muller, R.T. Attachment-Based Intervention Strategies in Family Therapy with Survivors of Intra-Familial Trauma: A Case Study. J Fam Viol 29, 539–548 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-014-9607-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-014-9607-4

Keywords

  • Attachment
  • Family
  • Sibling
  • Family therapy
  • Trauma
  • Violence