9

Epilogue

t is now well known that attachment is vital to healthy development.

Secure attachment is associated with mental, emotional, social, and
moral well-being. We are also familiar with the damage done to
children, families, and society as a result of compromised attachment.

We have explained throughout this book how parents can create secure
attachment from the beginning and how to help wounded children improve
when attachment goes wrong. You, the healing parent, can be the emotional
guide that holds the key.
Relationships are the foundation of humanity. As a healing parent, you not
only can have a positive impact on your child, but are also helping the next
generation and society in general. Maltreatment and disrupted attachment are
pathways to antisocial thinking and behavior. Many of these children grow up
without

an

internal

guidance

system

that

enables

them

to

accept

responsibility, follow rules, and care for others. They continue this negative
cycle with their own children, contribute to the breakdown of the family, and
often end up in treatment facilities or prisons. By providing your children with
a sense of connectedness, belonging, and trust, you can make a difference.
We hope that this book has given you the information, skills, support, selfawareness, and optimism necessary to help your child and family. We have
invited you to look at yourself and your family in a different waybeing a
mindful parent, deeply understanding your childs thoughts, feelings, and
needs, and creating positive family relationships. We wish you all the best on
your journey toward health and healing.

About the Authors

MICHAEL ORLANS, M.A., D.A.PA., B.C.EE.

ichael Orlans is an internationally renowned

author

and

trainer

who

has

taught

throughout the United States, Canada, Great

Britain, and Japan. Mr. Orlans is a Certified Master

Therapist with more than 32 years of clinical experience
working with children, adults, and families in public
mental health, the criminal justice system, and private
practice. He is codirector of the Evergreen Psychotherapy Center and the
Attachment Treatment and Training Institute. A pioneer in the treatment of
children, adolescents, and adults with compromised attachment, he is the
developer of Corrective Attachment Therapy and innovator of the two-week
intensive treatment approach. He served on the faculty or lectured at several
universities; and is a presenter for the National Foster Parent Association and
a consultant to foster care programs and child welfare agencies around the
world. Mr. Orlans is a cofounder of the Association for Treatment and Training
in the Attachment of Children (ATTACh). He is a member of the Founding
Executive Board of Directors of the American Psychotherapy Association,
Association for Treatment and Training in the Attachment of Children, and the
National Alliance for Rational Childrens Policy. He is a Board Certified Forensic
Examiner and Fellow of the College of the American College of Forensic
Examiners;

Diplomate

in

Psychotherapythe

American

Psychotherapy

Association; and a Certified Criminal Justice Specialist, Master Addictions

SpecialistAmerican College of Certified Forensic Counselors. He is a member
of Colorado Psychotherapy Association and an honorary lifetime member of
the Colorado Society for the Study of Traumatic Stress and Dissociation. Mr.
Orlans has contributed to numerous books, journals, and other publications.

With Dr. Levy, he coauthored the bestseller, Attachment, Trauma, and Healing
(1998, Child Welfare League of America).

TERRY M. LEVY, Ph.D., D.A.P.A., B.C.F.E.

Dr. Terry Levy has been a psychotherapist,

trainer, supervisor, and consultant for more than 30
years. Dr. Levy is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in
Colorado

and

Florida,

Board

Certified

Forensic

Examiner, and a Diplomate and Master Therapist of the

American Psychotherapy Association. He is a clinical
member

of

the

American,

Colorado,

and

Florida

Psychological Associations, American and Colorado Associations of Marriage

and Family Therapy, American Family Therapy Academy, and the National
Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology. Dr. Levy was previously
founder and Director of the Family Life Center (Florida) and the Miami
Psychotherapy Institute, which offered family systems treatment and training.
He was cofounder and past president of the Board of Directors of the
Association for Treatment and Training in the Attachment of Children (ATTACh),
an international organization dedicated to attachment and its critical
importance to human development.- Dr. Levy has taught clinical and
therapeutic parenting seminars for the American Psychological Association,
American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, Association for Preand Perinatal Psychology and Health, American Academy of Psychotherapists,
American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, Child Welfare League of
America, National Foster Parents Association, and numerous mental health,
child welfare, and school systems nationally and in Canada, Europe, and Asia.
He is coauthor of the best seller Attachment, Trauma & Healing (1998, Child
Welfare League of America), and editor of Handbook of Attachment
Interventions (2000, Elsevier Press). Dr. Levy is currently codirector of the
Evergreen Psychotherapy Center and the Attachment Treatment and Training
Institute in Evergreen, Colorado.

Evergreen Psychotherapy Center, pile

Attachment Treatment and Training Institute

32065 Castle Court, #325 Evergreen, CO 80439

www.attachmentexperts.com/attiepc@aol. com Fax: 303-6744078 Phone: 303-674-4029 (Dr. Levy xl03) (Mr. Orlans xlOl)
( Dr. Coster xl02)