This textbook provides an up-to-date guide to the application of Attachment Narrative Therapy (ANT), a model that combines concepts and techniques from systemic family therapy, narrative therapy and theory and attachment theory. Edited and with contributions from leading practitioners of ANT, this book brings together illustrations of its applications in a variety of clinical settings. It offers practical guidance and the latest research from clinicians who are now advancing its application. Another important feature is illustration of how practitioners have developed ANT to incorporate the latest ideas and methods from trauma theory and neuro-biology. It will provide a valuable new resource for practitioners, teachers and students of systemic practice, family therapy, clinical psychology, counselling and psychotherapy.
Author(s): Rudi Dallos
Series: Palgrave Texts in Counselling and Psychotherapy
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 321
City: Cham
Contents
Notes on Contributors
List of Figures
List of Tables
Introduction to the Book
1: Attachment Narrative Therapy
Hostages to our Past or Agents of our Lives?
Representational Systems and Choice
Corrective and Replicative Intentions
Don’t Blame the Parents: Reflecting on Responsibility and Influence
ANT: A Communicational Approach
Formulation in ANT: An Ecological Model
The Parenting System: Views of the Child
The Therapeutic Process in ANT
Co-creating a Secure Base
Greg
Tara
Processes of Exploration and Fostering Changes
References
2: Towards a Secure Exploration of Attachment and Shame Using Attachment Narrative Therapy
Introduction
What Is Shame?
Attachment Narrative Therapy and Shame
Integrating Internal Working Models and Dispositional Representations
From Attachment-Based Therapy to Attachment Narrative Therapy
Two Examples of the Use of Attachment Narrative Therapy in Clinical Practice
Farah’s Story: “I Want to Be a Good Mother”
Stage 1: Establishing Trust and Creating a Secure Base
Navigating Shame and Repairing Unintentional Shaming
Cultural Aspects
Stage 2: Exploring the Problems
Identifying Key Relational Moments of Shame
From the Semantic to the Visual: Tracking Circularities
Traumatic Memory from the Past (Figs. 2.1 and 2.2)
Memory Is Triggered Implicitly in the Present (Figs. 2.3 and 2.4)
Stage 3: Exploring Alternative Narratives, Alternative Contexts and Fostering Change
Reframing the Event
Understanding the Wider Family Context
Exploring Patterns of Comforting
Exploring Hypothetical Future-Oriented Attachment Narratives
Connell’s Story: “You are so Strong, My Boy”
Stage 1: Establishing Trust and Creating a Secure Base
Navigating Embarrassment and Avoiding Shame
Organisation of Narratives
Attachment-Focused Timeline
Stage 2: Exploring the Problems
Identifying Key Traumatic Events
Traumatic Memories from the Past (Figs. 2.6 and 2.7)
Memories are Triggered Implicitly in the Present (Figs. 2.8 and 2.9)
Stage 3: Exploring Alternative Narratives, Alternative Contexts and Fostering Change
Reframing the Events
The Wider Family Context
Exploring Patterns of Comforting and Hypothetical Future-Oriented Attachment Narratives
Conclusion
References
3: Supporting Parents of Children with an Intellectual Disability Using Attachment Narrative Therapy
Introduction
Setting the Context
Personal and Professional Connections
Formulation and Intervention in Child ID Settings
Circularities
Exploring the Family Genogram
Triangulation
Developmental Needs and the Family Life Cycle
Attachment-Informed Timelines
Cultural Narratives of ID and Internal Working Models
Corrective and Replicative Scripts
Building a Secure Base
Activities for Readers
Case Study: Intergenerational Attachment Patterns and Corrective/Replicative Scripts
Conclusion
References
4: Taking an Insider Position to Working with Family Conflict, Violence and Domestic Abuse: Contributions from Attachment Narrative Therapy
Introduction
Insider/Outsider Positions in Organisations
ANT
Clinical Practice Example
Uncertainty and Risk: The Production of ‘Risk Objects’
Developing Services that Respond to Domestic Violence and Abuse
Organisational Practice Examples
Development of a Consultation System
Recording Practices
Group Supervision
Conclusion
References
5: Working Systemically with Family Violence and Attachment Dilemmas
Setting the Scene
Our Systemic Safety Methodology for Safe Relationship Therapy Practice
The Management of Risk of Future Violence
The Assessment of the Risk of Future Violence
Responsibility for Behaviour that Harms Others and Responsibility for Safety
Collaborative Practices
Safety Planning: An Attachment Narrative Approach
Internal Triggers for Dangerous Arousal
External Triggers for Dangerous Arousal
Family Members’ Resources
Predicting and Preventing Violent Escalations
In Conclusion
References
6: SAFE, a Manualised Version of Attachment Narrative Therapy Designed for Families of Children with an Autism Diagnosis
The Secure Base
Exploration and Intervention
Tracking Family Patterns
Sculpts
The Area of Special Interest
Self-Autism Mapping (SAM)
Reflecting Conversations
Maintaining
Some Final Thoughts
References
7: Self-Harm: Moving from Dyads to Triads
Introduction
Setting the Context: Service Settings, Personal and Professional Orientations, and Ethos
Triadic Processes and ANT
Formulation of Self-Harm with the ANT Approach
Corrective and Replicative Scripts and Intentions
Case Example
Katie and Her Family
ANT Formulation: Current and Trans-Generational Processes
The Layers of Attachment: Dispositional Representations
Developing a Secure Base as the Foundation for the ANT Approach: Co-constructing a Therapeutic Relationship
The Triangle as a Therapeutic and Supervisory Tool: Two Case Examples
Phoebe: Caught Between Parents and Between Home and Hospital
Case Example: “A Huge Penny Dropped on My head”
Discussion
References
8: Fostering Home–School Relationships: SAFE with Schools (SwiS)
Development of SwiS
Aims of SwiS
Theoretical Base
Structure of SwiS
Summary of the SwiS Programme
Day 1
Introductions
Overview of the Orientation of SwiS
Sharing Understandings of Autism
A Systemic–Relational Perspective: Positive and Problematic Cycles
Video Consultation Activity
Day 2
Meltdowns and Shutdowns
Externalising
Attachment Theory
Child’s Relationship with the Home–School System
The Children’s Worlds: Narratives of Autism
SAM: Self-Autism Mapping
Keeping Connected
Discussion
References
9: Long-Term Supervision in Post-Qualification Systemic Psychotherapy: An Attachment Narrative Approach
Introduction: Positioning and Context
Co-creating Safety: The Secure Base in Supervision
ANT and Long-Term Supervision
Growth, Development and Evolution
Exploration, Illumination and the Way Forward
Colleagues as Friends, and Friends as Colleagues: The Construction of Safety
Safety–Trust–Protection
References
10: Setting Up an ANT-Based Systemic Family Therapy Clinic: Experiences, Recommendations and Extensions
Introduction
What Is Attachment Narrative Therapy?
The Need for a Specialist ANT: Systemic Family Therapy Clinic
A Child-Friendly Approach: Multi-sensory
Guidelines for Setting up a Systemic Clinic Informed by the ANT Framework
Referral Criteria
Staff Skills and Qualifications
Supervision
Experience of Setting Up an ANT Clinic
Conversations in Preparation: Key Players
The Structure of the ANT Clinic
Pre-Session
Session (Part 1)
The Intersession/Reflecting Team Conversation
Session (Part 2)
Outline Placeholder
Similar to the pre-session, the post-session discussion takes about 20 to 30 minutes. Again at the beginning stages, we would suggest planning for a 30-minute post-session. The team shares what they have ‘learnt’ about the family, how the emerging form
Discussion
References
11: Bereavement Attachment Narrative Therapy (BANT): An ANT Approach to Working with Grief
Introduction
Jenny and Alison
Narrative Indicators of Dismissing Strategies
Indicators in Narrative of Preoccupying Strategies
Dawn and Her Family
References
Index
