Attachment Disorder

Hi - so I'm still working and I haven't seen a lot of changes in the mental health environment.  I don't like it.  A lot of it is due to the economy - perhaps things will improve in the future.  I also live in the midwest and that area is not recovering quickly, and Illinois is broke, so... My heart goes out to the many families struggling with these difficult children but that aren't getting a lot of help.  I am available for services but families having money to pay for them is a problem, and DCFS seems to claim they cannot pay. I am working on youtube videos and a  book which may help out there.  Perhaps there will be other ways to get services out there.  I am also available for online counseling services, phone counseling, etc.  There are other ways.  You can also email me at  appell4@gmail.com if you have questions and my phone is 815-398-8422. And my website is here . 

Hi -News from the Office - I work in Illinois with many foster/adoptive families. Well, things aren't looking so good right now for those families. The state of Illinois, as with many other states, is in dire financial straits. Well, it seems they are willing to play games with the children and families that have adopted these special children with many difficult needs. I do not believe it is the state department dispensing of the children's needs, but the politicians deciding it is not their problem - they are more invested in political battles. I am not sure what these families will do, also at a time when insurance companies are more restrictive, when jobs are being lost, and money is slim - they will be left on their own with the disturbed children they care for. I am anxious to see what happens. Again, it would be my deepest wish that children would not be born into families that do not have the love, desire, and or capacity to take care of them - that is the true cr...

This summer I will be working on a new cd and perhaps other cd's, depending on time available. My first goal, which has been a goal for some time, is to produce a cd for first time sessions with parents who are living with children with attachment disorder. I have seen such joy in families when they have had their first meeting with me. I would like to be able to reach more families and this cd will be out in July, 2009. Please let people know about this opportunity. Again, I can help more families this way and this idea has been sitting there for many years. I am a therapist who has been working in the field for 20 years and feel that this will be an excellent resource for families. Thanks for your support. Christine Appell, LCPC

Well, I am totally amazed that it has been soooooo long since I have been online. I have another job, but my, 10 months pass quickly. Please bear with me. I have a wonderful foster/adoptive mom who has done some respite for families - she gets it and what a help for families with children with attachment disorder. they are not able to manipulate the situation and go home worse than before. This is a valid fear many families have. This is all I'm writing tonite but I wanted to get started again. Please see my website at TheAttachmentGroup.org.