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 . 

How is the media about attachment disorder lately?  I really don't know even though I do therapy.  When I worked in child welfare the talk was much greater, but I am now in schools and never hear about it.  I believe part of it is the economy.  Families are being abandoned and having to deal with the issue on their own as there are not many resources available anymore.  I received a perfect email today from someone really struggling and they had tried many available resources but they did not work with true RAD kids - actually i prefer CWAD - child with attachment disorder.  So many options are a waste of time and very frustrating to parents, giving the CWAD even more power. I feel very bad for families when this happens as it is so much wasted time, but more than that, it is energy and emotional health at stake, that of the parents. Life's Outlook Here's my website .

So, I'm in the process of developing new products - for me there has been a great deal of education on internet marketing and in that I've learned new ways to do things - efficient, etc. I tried audacity for my audio but had to purchase sony audio to use instead. Tim wasted and frustrating. Hopefully this week. CD session 1 for parents will be out. I have 10 editions of my brief newsletter for follow-up if you sign up on my website. I believe my next training to be submitted will be for professionals and another audio for parents. There is so much need for help to get out there and in these financial times, families do not have as many resources. So, pay close attention and see what's coming next. I also have submitted articles on Ezine Articles online, free for your perusal. Hang in there. Remember, you are not alone. Remember our mission is "More peace and joy in your life" because of what we can offer. Christine Appell-Naff, LCPC www.theattachmentgroup.or...

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

I have seen a number of families helping each other out. I think those P-cwad and C-cwad ) (parents and caregivers of children with attachment disorder) can be very supportive to each other as you all share common experiences and one of the best supports is talking to others who live through it or are living with it, and also those who have seen improvements. I also have had several parents who have been willing to provide some respite for others. I only recommend the respite if I think the respite caregiver will follow a structured, tight childcare. NONE of my P-cwad and C-cwad have ever wanted the child to go away and come home worse!! Makes things worse at home and child then feels superior. Many things in the cwad realm are mysteries - I often say I don't know why and, again, we could go crazy trying to get in the minds of these children and trying to understand them with our minds. Sometimes it is best to let go, shrug your shoulders, say it "just is" but discipline ...