The crucial roles of attachment in family therapy

Byng‐Hall, John

doi:10.1111/j.1467-6427.2008.00422.x

Cited by 65 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…However, research (Byng-Hall, 2008) highlights that the conscious wish to do things differently is not in itself sufficient to prevent past patterns from repeating.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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‘Me and my Bump’: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the experiences of pregnancy for vulnerable women

Birtwell

Hammond

Puckering

2013

Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry

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Eight pregnant women, considered to be ‘vulnerable’ due to exposure to a number of underlying risk factors, participated in semi-structured interviews regarding their experiences of pregnancy and of Mellow Bumps, a 6-week targeted antenatal intervention. Interview transcripts were explored using interpretative phenomenological analysis. The analysis revealed five superordinate themes: pregnancy as a time of reflection; the body being taken over; pregnancy as an emotional rollercoaster; relationships as important; separating identities. Pre- and post-natal attachment theories were found to be useful in interpreting the data. Findings suggest that pregnancy may be ‘normalising’ and provide an important opportunity for building more positive representations of the self. Findings also provide clinical support for the assertion that the attachment relationship begins before birth. The Mellow Bumps intervention was uniformly seen as helpful. It appeared to nurture prenatal attachment relationships, playing a potentially protective role, by helping to establish the foundations for secure mother–infant relationships in the future. Meeting similar women and engaging in ordinary, supportive conversation during Mellow Bumps seemed to reduce feelings of isolation and stigma. Implications for clinical practice are considered.

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“…However, research (Byng-Hall, 2008) highlights that the conscious wish to do things differently is not in itself sufficient to prevent past patterns from repeating.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This methodology cannot comment upon unconscious determinants which may be as, or more, influential in shaping thoughts, feelings and behaviour (Clark & Hoggett, 2009). Research has long highlighted the role that unconscious determinants play in shaping parenting behaviours (Fraiberg, Adelson & Shapiro, 1975;Byng-Hall, 2008).…”

Section: Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘Me and my Bump’: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the experiences of pregnancy for vulnerable women

Birtwell

Hammond

Puckering

2013

Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry

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“…This additional work resulted in both parents' increased ability to collaborate as a team while respecting the importance of each other for Brenda's healing and development. It is this parental collaboration that allowed Brenda to feel safe enough to explore new ways of relating (Byng-Hall, 2008). Until the coalition between Brenda and her mother was addressed and changed, Brenda struggled with allowing herself to approach her father and express her longing for him.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Attachment-Based Family Therapy for Adolescent Self-Injury

Kissil

2011

Journal of Family Psychotherapy

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There is growing awareness in the popular media and in clinical reports of the increasing prevalence of self-injury, especially among adolescents. Self-injury affects the entire family and is, in turn, affected by the family system. Thus, family therapy is an important component when working with adolescents who are still dependent on their families. However, available treatments, for the most part, do not address the relational-systemic aspects of self-harm, and treat only the individual. This article situates self-harm within the relational framework of adolescent attachment theory and presents a case study demonstrating the treatment of adolescent self-injury with attachment-based family therapy. KEYWORDS adolescents, attachment, attachment-based family therapy, case study, self-injuryOver the last several decades, self-injury, particularly inflicted by adolescents, has received growing attention by popular media, as well as in research and clinical work. Despite this increase in awareness and attention, available treatments are scarce and are typically not adolescent specific. Most studies on the functions of self-injury conceptualize it as an affect-regulation strategy. As attachment relationship is an important way of learning affect regulation, it is reasonable to explain self-injury within the framework of attachment theory and as possibly resulting from attachment ruptures. As current evidence suggests that attachment ruptures can be repaired

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“…This would open up the possibility for new stories to develop within the family system based on familial patterns rather than "truths" and facts (Cecchin, 1987). We would also be interested in identifying patterns or scripts within the family that highlight how family roles have developed (Byng-Hall, 2008), and may use genograms of wider family relationships to reveal broader patterns (McGoldrick, Gerson, & Petry, 2008).…”

Section: Intervention Planmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These are grounded in relevant theory, including ideas about attachment, power, and gender. Ideas about transitions in family boundaries (e.g., Wood & Talmon, 1983) and attachments (e.g., Byng-Hall, 2008) also offer frameworks for thinking about why difficulties arise within families.…”

Section: Formulation Within Family Therapymentioning

confidence: 99%