Attachment Disorder Assessment
Use the following assesment to determine whether your family might benefit from counseling:
- ___ Did your child suffer neglect or abuse in the first 3 years of life?
___ Did they have multiple painful medical procedures during the first 3 years of life?
___ Were they born premature or medically complex and spent extended periods of time in the hospital?
___ Were they exposed to alcohol, illegal drugs, or prescription medications in utero?
___ Were they adopted internationally from an orphanage?
___ Did they have multiple placements and/or caregivers in the first 3 years of life?
___ TOTAL
AND
- ___ Does your child have tantrums that seem much longer and more intense than those other children of similar age have?
___ Does your child seem ‘superficially charming’ to outsiders while acting completely different when alone with you?
___ Does your child seem to have a ‘honeymoon’ with new teachers, day care providers, counselors or friends followed by increasingly aggressive and non compliant behaviors?
___ Does your child seem to target their primary caregiver with their anger in a way that is very different from other caregivers in the home?
___ Does your child have ‘rages’ where they destroy things or hurt themselves or others?
___ Does your child seem to not benefit from psychotropic medications?
___ After having a very good day, does your child seem to fall apart or appear angry?
___ After any separations from you such as overnights with family members or camp, does he/she seem angry with you?
___ Does your child not respond to sticker charts and token systems of discipline?
___ Have you tried counseling with other therapist’s but had no success?
___ Does your child lie about little things?
___ Does your child need constant attention, even if it is negative attention?
___ Does your child talk excessively as a way of dominating your attention and time?
___ Has your child had multiple diagnoses by multiple providers?
___ Does your child reject affection or only accept affection on their terms?
___ Does your child seem to not understand the concept of strangers?
___ If you praise your child, does it result in worse behavior?
___ Has your child harmed animals? Hurt other children? Physically attacked you or other authority figures?
___ Has your child lied to others about being abused, neglected, or maltreated in your home?
___ Are you ever afraid of your child?
___ Do you feel like every day is a major power struggle with your child? Does your child seem to thrive on being in control?
___ Does your child seem to lack long term friendships?
___ Does your child only make eye contact when they are lying to you?
___ Are they preoccupied with violent videos, movies, blood, gore, and playacting violent themes?
___ Do you have a hard time feeling love towards your child?
___ Do you doubt that your child loves you?
___ TOTAL
If you answered yes to one of the first set and 3 or more of the bottom set, your child may have an attachment disorder. Consider taking the next steps to receive counseling and healing for your family.