By Ann E. Potter PhD, Debra Wesselmann MS LIMHP

Delivers a unique, comprehensive treatment that galvanizes inner resources for reorganizing personality and healing childhood attachment rifts

At the heart of this innovative text is a strengths-based, Attachment-Focused Trauma Therapy for Adults (AFTT-A) that facilitates healthier functioning and attachment patterns for adult clients. This model uses a multimodal, step-by-step approach to restructuring the internal personality system to reclaim the authentic “Self” by providing new attachment experiences for “Child” parts of Self and negotiating new adult-life roles. AFTT-A orients all inner personality components to the present moment in which unmet childhood needs for nurturing and protection can be met within clients themselves. The book delivers a sequence of scripted protocols that accesses and activates the client’s own strengths, creating an internal system of resources and using bilateral stimulation to deepen positive affective shifts.

Throughout the book in Pause and Reflect sections, the authors encourage therapists to think about their own attachment patterns that emerge in therapy sessions and implement activities to enhance personal self-awareness and improve attunement to clients. Short vignettes and excerpts from client sessions illustrate the model’s application, and end-of-chapter Points to Remember and Troubleshooting tips reinforce key concepts and underscore common therapy challenges and their solutions. The AFTT-A model is useful not only for EMDR therapists but can be easily integrated with non-EMDR models of trauma therapy. Purchase includes digital access for use on most mobile devices or computers.

In today’s fast-paced world, many adults struggle with the lingering effects of childhood attachment trauma. These experiences can leave deep emotional scars and can manifest in a variety of ways, such as difficulties in forming and maintaining healthy relationships, low self-esteem, and a sense of disconnect from oneself and others. However, there is hope for healing and reorganizing personality for a more fulfilling and satisfying life.

“Attachment-Focused Trauma Therapy for Adults” by Ann E. Potter and Debra Wesselmann presents a groundbreaking treatment approach that harnesses the power of attachment theory and trauma therapy to help clients heal their attachment rifts and rediscover their authentic selves. Drawing on their extensive experience as therapists and researchers, Potter and Wesselmann provide clinicians with a comprehensive guide to implementing Attachment-Focused Trauma Therapy for Adults (AFTT-A).

AFTT-A is a strengths-based model that takes a step-by-step approach to restructuring the internal personality system. The model recognizes that the adult client is made up of different parts, including the “Parent,” “Adult,” and “Child” parts of self. These different parts have different needs and experiences, and AFTT-A aims to create new attachment experiences for the “Child” parts of self while negotiating new adult-life roles.

One of the key principles of AFTT-A is the belief that clients have the inner resources to heal themselves. The therapy process involves accessing and activating these inner resources through a series of scripted protocols. These protocols guide therapists in facilitating positive affective shifts and creating an internal system of resources for the client. The use of bilateral stimulation helps to deepen these shifts and promote healing.

In addition to providing a detailed treatment model, Potter and Wesselmann also emphasize the importance of therapist self-reflection. They encourage therapists to think about their own attachment patterns that may emerge in therapy sessions and to engage in activities that enhance self-awareness and improve attunement to clients. This self-reflective process not only benefits the therapist-client relationship but also promotes personal growth and development for the therapist.

The book includes numerous examples and vignettes from client sessions to illustrate the application of the AFTT-A model. These real-life examples offer valuable insights into the therapeutic process and demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach. The authors also provide troubleshooting tips, exercises, and activities to help therapists navigate common challenges and enhance their clinical skills.

“Attachment-Focused Trauma Therapy for Adults” is a valuable resource for therapists working with clients who have experienced childhood attachment trauma. The AFTT-A model offers a comprehensive and integrated approach to healing and reorganizing personality. Whether you are an EMDR therapist or use a different trauma therapy approach, the AFTT-A model can be easily integrated into your practice.

If you are a therapist looking to expand your clinical skills and help your clients heal their attachment rifts, this book is an essential addition to your professional library. Order your copy today and start implementing the Attachment-Focused Trauma Therapy for Adults model in your practice. Your clients will thank you for it, and you will see firsthand the transformative power of this innovative approach.

Product Details

• Publisher: Springer Publishing Company; 1st edition (September 22, 2022)
• Language: English
• eBook Digital: 334 pages
• ISBN-10: 0826136885
• ISBN-13: 978-0826136886