(Seventh in a series)

When I asked Foster about calling Russ Colburn for his comments as well, Foster was not sure Russ would want to be involved about articles in attachment anymore because...

the issues around attachment therapy are easily criticized; angry, negative people are vocal, often adept at stirring things up, vilifying those they never even met—while those who are satisfied and have been helped get on with their quiet, effective, and functional lives.

Foster travels the United States and the world writing and talking about Parenting... more

(Sixth in a series)

At this point in our conversation, the topic turned to the politically difficult climate right now surrounding attachment therapy, attachment therapists, and therapeutic parenting. I mentioned some of the difficulties faced by the Attachment Disorder Network as we attempted to serve families with emotionally disturbed children. In the course of this conversation, the ATTACh organization was mentioned, and this was Foster’s perspective:

ATTACh was started down in Florida and they didn’t have any... more

(Fifth in a series)

As Foster and I continued our conversation about the origins of attachment therapy, I found the following comments and insight from Foster to be most descriptive of the conflict surrounding this approach.

The teaching at the time was that underneath schizophrenia lay a massive amount of rage that wasn’t being expressed. Schizophrenics are flat and not very responsive. But there was supposed to be this tremendous amount of rage. Well, as a young therapist, I was like “Yeh yeh yeh” but I never saw it. Well, this young woman that I told you about, the young lady that Zaslow treated and had that session all day, she screamed her... more

(Fourth in a series) Two years later the young woman Zaslow had successfully treated for schizophrenia experienced a period of anorexia. Foster saw her and was shocked by how thin she was, but she was thoughtful, responsible and certainly not schizophrenic.

Foster recalls being “shocked into silence by her appearance, but Zaslow simply chuckled lovingly and opened by saying, "You don't look so juicy, my dear.” Zaslow had come to see her in Foster’s office. Zaslow treated her using traditional sit-down sessions and according... more

(Third in a series)

Zaslow worked with this young lady, Foster’s patient, all day and she went home that night for the first time in many months… and she was talking sensibly! Foster recalled, “It was a harrowing experience because he was SO intrusive with this gal, but… 3 weeks later she went to Mexico with a bunch of kids and did well.” Foster talked 20 years later with one of the therapists who were also present, and asked this woman how she felt about that session. She said,

“I had this turmoil of feelings — I’ve... more

(Second in a series)

If one drops Robert Zaslow’s name into Google, the results are frightening. The entire first page of “hits” list numerous articles that contain scathing indictments of “attachment therapy”, “holding therapy”, “rage-reduction therapy”, and the diagnosis of RAD in general. Zaslow is oft mentioned as the “father of rage-reduction therapy.” It isn’t until the second page of Google hits that one finds a review (written by John A. Speyrer) of High Risk: Children Without A Conscience, by Dr. Ken Magid and... more

(First of a series)

As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago when I teased you with the promise of “the history of attachment therapy straight from the horse’s mouth”, I once had the opportunity to spend several hours visiting with Russ Colburn, former Executive Director of Forest Heights Lodge in Colorado. Russ regaled me with stories of working with Foster Cline and Robert Zaslow in the early ‘70’s. Additionally, I have had several opportunities to listen to Foster Cline describe his early years as a psychiatrist and his therapeutic experiences.... more