top of page
RAD Reflections
Interested in writing a blog post? Please see the guidelines here.
Search
Heather Houze
Jan 12, 20217 min read
When a parent needs to call the police on her child with reactive attachment disorder
“What do you want me to do for you?” the police officer said. I will never forget the perplexed look on the young officer’s face when I...
483 views0 comments
Heather Houze
Jan 5, 20212 min read
The one thing my son needs most that I can't give him in any new year
The decorations are back in their boxes. Gifts exchanged. Another year behind us. But as other people look toward the future, I’m...
51 views0 comments
Amy VanTine
Dec 28, 20206 min read
A woman's dreams of adoption and a fight for her family's safety
It seemed to happen in an instant. From the time the caseworker called to the time the boys arrived, Anna and Tom had one week to prepare...
181 views0 comments
Amy VanTine
Dec 8, 20205 min read
Why parenting a child with reactive attachment disorder requires far more than coffee with a friend
I’ve always known it’s a good idea to have a little time away from my kids. And it’s great to go on dates with my husband from time to...
2,589 views0 comments
Stacey Hansen
Dec 1, 20204 min read
The pizza cutter mantra: How to give more calm than chaos to those raising a child with RAD
My mom and I have an inside joke—don’t touch the pizza cutter. Back when my adopted daughter with reactive attachment disorder (RAD)...
338 views0 comments
Heather Houze
Nov 24, 20206 min read
6 tricky reactive attachment disorder symptoms one mom initially missed in her son
Reactive attachment disorder is tricky to recognize. The symptoms don't always line up with a doctor's prognosis or another child with RAD.
8,292 views0 comments
Gina Heumann
Nov 17, 20207 min read
8 things you need to know before you adopt a child
Like any expectant parents, adoptive moms and dads worry that they don’t know enough. They wonder what they need to learn to take care of...
551 views0 comments
Chris Prange-Morgan, MA, MSW
Nov 10, 20205 min read
How a Mom of a Child with Reactive Attachment Disorder Develops "Trauma Brain" Too
Here at RAD Advocates, we still talk about our "trauma brains" even years after raising kids with reactive attachment disorder. It's real.
5,619 views1 comment
Heather Houze
Nov 3, 20203 min read
Why Parenting a Child With Reactive Attachment Disorder Isn't the Same as Parenting Other Kids
Early in our childrearing lives, I became a stay-at-home mom. My husband Jon supported our family financially while I handled most of the...
382 views0 comments
Amy VanTine
Oct 27, 20204 min read
The Most Important Things to Know and Do if Your Child with RAD is in Residential Treatment
Carol was in a complete state of panic when I answered the phone. Her son Ty, a child with reactive attachment disorder (RAD), had been...
1,599 views0 comments
Anonymous
Oct 20, 20206 min read
A mom's heart-wrenching journey through RAD and the decision to send her daughter to live elsewhere
My husband and I had been foster parents for three years the day we got the phone call. The woman on the phone was from the U.S....
624 views0 comments
Heather Houze
Oct 14, 20207 min read
Reactive Attachment Disorder Parenting Resource Round-Up: 34 Sources to Survive the Difficult Path
While helpful resources are still bleak with regard to reactive attachment disorder parenting, it's come a long way. Here's what we found.
1,971 views1 comment
Forrest Lien, LCSW
Oct 6, 20206 min read
An Open Letter to Clinicians about "Unstable" Moms of Kids with Reactive Attachment Disorder
Dear Mental Health Colleague, A mother called me in tears yesterday. Her story was one of hundreds I’ve heard over nearly 40 years in the...
6,841 views0 comments
Cheryl Ruzzo
Sep 29, 20208 min read
A Hidden Aftermath of Reactive Attachment Disorder: When a Child's Trauma Traumatizes the Family
Simply because a perpetrator is a child does not diminish the effects of abuse. Reactive attachment disorder impacts the whole family.
6,262 views4 comments
Julie Evans, LPC
Sep 23, 20204 min read
4 simple ways to spot reactive attachment disorder symptoms when they look like lots of other things
It was a typical day at our counseling office when I got her phone call. Even though several years have passed, I can still hear the...
1,212 views0 comments
Amy VanTine
Sep 16, 20204 min read
8 ways to spot a good reactive attachment disorder therapist as an exhausted parent
It's tough to find a therapist who understands the reality of reactive attachment disorder. It is possible though. Look for these qualities.
1,000 views1 comment
Heather
Sep 9, 20204 min read
When adoption meets reactive attachment disorder and other things this mom learned the hard way
As an adoptive mom, I’ve been asked many times if I would adopt again. My answer is never cut and dry—never a hard yes or no. I love...
324 views0 comments
Anonymous
Aug 18, 20205 min read
How a family who opened their hearts and home to serious reactive attachment disorder found safety
Pastor Michael and his wife Tanya were in their 50’s and had raised two beautiful daughters. As empty-nesters, they looked forward to...
208 views0 comments
Amy VanTine
Aug 18, 20207 min read
When Home is No Longer a Safe Haven: The Reality of Living with Reactive Attachment Disorder
Families of kids with reactive attachment disorder on the moderate to severe range often live in compromising environments.
6,902 views2 comments
Gina Heumann
Aug 17, 20204 min read
5 ways you can be a good friend to a mom of a child with reactive attachment disorder
To mother a child who suffers from early trauma is a lonely place. If you have a friend doing so, you can make a difference in her life...
216 views0 comments
We Need Your Support Today!
bottom of page