IAFT: A Nonverbal, Physiologic Approach to Helping Families Heal
- Principles and goals of attachment-based treatment
- The effects of early trauma and attachment disruption
- Assessment: Discern underlying motives and feelings underneath a child’s behavior
Clinical Interventions for Creating and Teaching Connection, Regulation, and Attunement
- Facilitating active dialogue between caregiver and child
- Using facial expressions, synchronized movement, and rhythm to create warmth
- Therapeutic activities to calm dysregulation and engage withdrawn children/caregivers
- PACE – Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, and Empathy
- How to reduce the intensity of the session’s content so the child and/or caregiver can “stay in it”
- Identify early signs of escalation to prevent withdrawal or sabotage of the session
- Engaging caregivers who are traumatized, withdrawn, critical, or defensive


