The Negative Emotions of Child Mental Health Professionals in the Face of Foster Care Situations: The Contribution of Attachment Theory
Type de matériel :
45
This paper discusses how professionals’ histories of attachment shed some light on why the foster care situation may evoke violent and negative emotions in them. Attachment theory sheds light on the regulation of negative emotions and on the impact on the child of insensitive parenting. Many mental health professionals rely on the concept of parentification, as revised with attachment theory, showing how compulsive caregiving may result from a disorganized attachment in childhood. Having to decide “who should care for whom” may awaken old attitudes described by Liotti as the “drama triangle.” Awareness of these vulnerabilities may help professionals treating children to not lose sight of the objective to protect the child.
Réseaux sociaux