Adopting Children with Attachment Problems

This article describes children with significant attach-ment problems and summarizes the actions needed to increase the probability that such children can be suc-cessfully adopted. Healthy and disordered attachment patterns are detailed, as well as the principles and strategies that are important in parenting such children and the parenting characteristics that should be sought in selecting families for children with attachment disor-der. Psychological treatment and other postadoption services necessary to support the adoption and the child's ability to successfully form a secure attachment with the adoptive parents are also highlighted. Daniel A. Hughes, Ph.D., is a psychologist in private practice. South China, Maine