Is Parent/Child Attachment a Risk Factor for Teen Dating Violence?
Question
Is parent/child attachment a risk factor teen dating violence?
Answer
Assessing attachment in children, regardless of the caregiver being a biological parent or not, is crucial, as it significantly impacts the likelihood of victimization or perpetration in adolescence and adulthood.
To explain attachment, I often use the analogy of a swimming pool, with the parent as the structure and life experiences as the elements within. In a secure relationship, the child explores the pool freely, knowing the parental support is firm yet allowing independence. In contrast, an insecure attachment may involve a parent preventing the child from venturing too far, hindering their ability to experience life fully.
This approach helps me engage with teens and uncover their subjective experiences of attachment, which may differ from the caregiver's presentation.
This Ask the Expert is an edited excerpt from the webinar, Teen Dating Violence: Strategies for Therapeutic Intervention, presented by Sybil Cummin, MA, LPC, ACS
Sybil Cummin
MA, LPC, ACS
Related Courses
Healing Through the Written Word: Working with Survivors of Domestic Violence
Understanding how to effectively work with survivors of domestic violence is an essential skill for any mental health practitioner. This webinar explores the impact written word and how it can be used to facilitate the healing process.Addressing Complex Trauma Across the Lifespan
This course will define and describe common symptoms of complex trauma and will provide an overview of clinical considerations and clinical perspectives to address complex trauma in teens and adults.Using What We Know About How We Grow: Utilizing Development as an Assessment Tool for Early Childhood Services
This course will review childhood physical and social-emotional development, considering knowledge of both domains as central to initial assessment of functioning for children, adolescents, and families.