Children who have experienced abuse, neglect, or abandonment while in the care of their birth families often suffer from the effects of significant trauma. Their early experiences with loss cause them to struggle to feel safe with a parent or caregiver. As a result, they may behave in ways that appear unpredictable, oppositional, and even extreme. 

Adoptive parents or caregivers may find it difficult to manage the behaviors and connect with their children emotionally. Providing supportive care and effective treatment is crucial to help children recover from trauma and encourage healing within adoptive or kinship families.

We’re here to help

Children’s Aid and Family Services has extensive experience supporting pre- and post-kinship and adoptive families on their unique journeys. Unlike traditional treatment, our therapists work with you and your family in a collaborative partnership to help your child recover from trauma as well as strengthen your relationships. 

Our therapists are trained in Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, an attachment-focused treatment for families with kinship, foster or adopted children. It emphasizes families working together with the therapist to help their children who experienced neglect, abuse and trauma in their past.

Goals for you and your family

The goals of AKLG Clinical Services are for children to gain relationship experience to grow and heal emotionally and for families to build stronger relationships with increased feelings of attachment, trust, and safety. 

A program of Children’s Aid and Family Services