Girdles, Laxatives and Respite (Respite Revisited)

by Greg Keck, Ph. D.

You're probably wondering just what these three things have in common and even more likely, you are questioning wheat they have to do with attachment! EXCESSIVE use of any of them may lead to further reliance upon them; in fact, on-going use may increase the need for them.

Respite, the obvious focus of this article, has become sacred in some corners - hailed as the very thing - perhaps the only thing that keeps some placements together. That may very well be true, however, I think that we should take another look at respite via these questions:

• Is respite supposed to improve the child's capacity to attach to the family?
• Is the ultimate goal of respite to no longer need/want respite?
• What is the message that respite sends to the child about the family's capacity to love, nurture, control, or manage the child?
• Does respite mimic or parallel the child's own approach/avoidance attachment responses?
• How is respite different than the child's experiences in multiple placements?

Read more of Dr. Keck's article here...