Living with a constant feeling of dread. Dyadic Developmental practice (DDP) with families who foster or adopt children with developmental trauma experience

Abstract

In this paper I am joined by an adoptive family to explore the Dyadic Developmental Practice (DDP) model. DDP was originally developed by US clinical psychologist, Dan Hughes as an intervention for children living away from their birth family. This model encompasses therapy, parenting, and practitioner support. The same DDP principles of open and engaged emotional connection, PACE, co-regulation, and co-creation of narrative, guide all DDP interventions. These allow everyone to slow down and seek understanding. This increases safety and reduces the risk of blaming or judging the family. The DDP principles, support the child to feel safe enough to move out of blocked trust, to build relationships, to develop an integrated sense of self and a coherent autobiographical narrative. DDP is developing from its strong foundation in Western psychological models, including attachment theory, intersubjectivity and neuroscience, to also learn from and adapt for families with different heritage, identity, and experience. As the family testify, the experience of DDP is scary, amazing, transformative, and challenging.