Attachment Trauma in Kids: Integrative Strategies for Parents

by Debra Wesselmann

Overview

Techniques for parents to help challenging children with traumatic pasts—now updated and expanded.

Raising kids who experienced early life trauma can be overwhelming for the adults in their lives, whether they’re adoptive or foster parents, guardians, or biological parents. The behaviors caused by the impact of trauma on children’s brains and nervous systems can be alarming. These kids’ mistrust, reactivity, and impulsivity place major roadblocks in their lives and in their relationships.

Originally published as Integrative Parenting, this expanded and updated guide for parents provides strategies that weave together the science of attachment, trauma, neurobiology, and child development. The methods presented in this book empower parents as agents for change through a deeper understanding of even the most bewildering behaviors. Here readers will find tools to build trust, calm impulsivity and reactivity, and improve children’s ability to think and communicate. Traumatized kids and their parents deserve a chance for a better future together—with this book, parents can pave the way.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781324053378
Publisher:	Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc.
Publication date:	12/09/2025
Edition description:	Second
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Debra Wesselmann, MS, LIMHP, specializes in treating trauma and attachment problems in adults, children, and families. She is an EMDR Institute facilitator and EMDRIA-approved consultant, as well as cofounder of the Attachment and Trauma Center of Nebraska in Omaha, Nebraska.

Editorial Reviews

"Attachment Trauma in Kids is a must-read book for any foster or adoptive parent struggling to understand and manage their child’s behaviors. Debra Wesselmann takes complex neurobiological concepts and translates them into easy-to-understand language that helps empower parents to build trusting relationships with their children. She clearly explains how trauma and neurodivergence impact children’s development and how parents can help. I highly recommend this book for clinicians and families alike. It’s a game changer!"— Jennie Dalcour, MA, LPC, clinical supervisor and therapist specializing in attachment trauma for Christian Family Care

"As a therapist and an adoptive parent, this book is a much-needed resource. Parenting a child who has faced early trauma can be both exhausting and confusing. Our ability to reflect deeply on our own experiences, our parenting, and what our child is going through can change everything. Debra Wesselman provides a wealth of knowledge in a relatable way, offering tools and examples that will challenge and empower you and your relationship with your child."— Lindsey Ondrak, LIMHP, LPC, IMH-E®, Nebraska Resource Project for Vulnerable Young Children, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, and owner of Solid Rock Counseling

"This updated edition thoughtfully integrates leading theories on healing attachment trauma in children, offering clear, practical strategies that empower caregivers to support their child’s healing. It gently encourages self-reflection, helping caregivers respond to challenging behaviors with greater attunement and trauma-informed insight. It speaks directly to many of the concerns I hear from parents in my work, and I look forward to sharing this wonderful resource with clients."— Amanda Walters, LCPC, post-adoption services supervisor at The Baby Fold

"Debra Wesselmann is both validating and hopeful in her approach to explaining the foundations of attachment, attunement, triggers, and other vital concepts. Wesselmann provides specific examples for guidance and tailored reflection, with a psychoeducational experience that is both highly educational and digestible. Whether the reader is a caregiver for children with attachment trauma or a therapist in want of a book to refer to families, this book will be an indispensable asset."— Vanessa Summers, LICSW, therapist and clinical program manager at Project Harmony, adjunct instructor at University of Nebraska–Omaha

From the Publisher