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Joint PACFA, CAPA (NSW) & AARC Conference 2014. An example of therapeutic post-separation family mediation. Bill Hewlett Clinical Services Specialist, Post-Separation Practice Relationships Australia NSW. www.nsw.relationships.com.au. Clients. Children and wellbeing
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Joint PACFA, CAPA (NSW) & AARC Conference 2014 An example of therapeutic post-separation family mediation Bill Hewlett Clinical Services Specialist, Post-Separation Practice Relationships Australia NSW www.nsw.relationships.com.au
Clients • Children and wellbeing • Around 25% of children whose parents separate will experience mental health issues (compared with 12% from families that never separate) • Sawyer et al, 2000; Kelly & Emery, 2003; • McIntosh, Wells & Long, 2007 www.nsw.relationships.com.au
Theoretical Considerations • Attachment Theory • ‘What we get exclusively from the family is love, and the capacity to form intimate attachments... • Emotional security does not lead inexorably to good character or good citizenship, but insecurity interferes with the formation of every social connection… • It increases the chance that we will react to others with avoidance, fear, anger and hostility.’ Rosenblum, 1995 www.nsw.relationships.com.au
Attachment Theory One of the consequences of poor attachment, is that there seems to be less space or spare mental capacity for accessing emotional and cognitive information about relationships. Rudi Dallos www.storyofneo.com.au www.nsw.relationships.com.au
Attachment Theory A child has a relationship with the parent’s relationship. www.storyofneo.com.au www.nsw.relationships.com.au
Neurobiology • Our focus as children, on our short term survival, has superseded attention to all long term maintenance. This is akin to burning the furniture to survive a freezing winter. Louis Cozolino • It is important to understand that the brain altered in destructive ways by neglect and trauma can also be altered in reparative, healing ways. Bruce Perry • www.storyofneo.com.au www.nsw.relationships.com.au
Evolutionary theory Unfortunately evolution has not seen fit to invest much neural circuitry into self-awareness. Louis Cozolino www.storyofneo.com.au www.nsw.relationships.com.au
Cortico-Hippocampal help The Social brain, given the opportunity, is always happy to help resolve a distressing relational situation, willingly providing data for insight and reflection. www.nsw.relationships.com.au
Facilitating the creation of neural pathways Ideal learning environment Too much stress Not enough stress www.nsw.relationships.com.au
Key structures of the brain impacted by trauma www.nsw.relationships.com.au
Fast and slow circuits www.nsw.relationships.com.au
‘J’ Curve www.nsw.relationships.com.au
The ‘J Curve’ Model • Dumb and curious form of enquiry to elicit information of intent, impact and effect on others. • A Attunement • E Engagement and Empathy • I Intent and Impact • O What do others see? • U What else could you do? www.nsw.relationships.com.au
Contact us Relationships Australia NSW www.nsw.relationships.com.au Australian Institute of Relationship Studies (AIRS) Training and Research Division www.airs.edu.au The Story of Neo www.storyofneo.com.au Bill Hewlett billh@ransw.org.au www.nsw.relationships.com.au