Consultation, Parent Coaching & Advocacy

We understand the overwhelming difficulties of raising traumatized children. Most parents raising traumatized children do not receive the services and support they need to support their families. We provide consultation and advocacy so they may receive appropriate funding, assessment and treatment and medication options for their children. We also provide expert legal representation.

We begin with an exploration phone call with Forrest Lien free of charge to help parents determine if Lifespan Trauma Consulting is a good match for their needs. We invite parents to schedule a phone call via email at forrest@lifespantrauma.com.

Assessment and treatment recommendations for children—Clinicians often confuse the symptoms of attachment issues and mental health struggles. As a result, many children with attachment difficulties receive inappropriate diagnoses which result in inappropriate treatment plans. We properly differentiate attachment from mental health issues, assess and recommend appropriate treatment options for children.

For assessments, parents complete an intake packet. We review the packet and speak with parents and their children via Skype. As children with RAD manipulate and charm out of an innate survival mechanism, we do not need to meet with them individually or in-person as they do not lend to correct assessments.

At the conclusion of the assessment, parents receive a complete report with a clinical explanation of the child’s struggles along with treatment recommendations.

Medication consultation—Once the initial RAD assessment is completed, the child may need a medical consult with Dr. Alston which may be explained in the recommendations.  Dr. Alston has worked closely with Forrest Lien over 30 years to effectively treat possible mental illness as a comorbid diagnosis with the RAD. Dr. John Alston can provide medical consultation with a family’s hometown physician to secure effective medication for their children.

Parent coaching—Most children with reactive attachment disorder do not respond well to individual therapy.  We believe that coaching parents is the most effective way to create stability in the home before a child is ready to engage in therapy sessions with the parents.

Awareness trainings—Parents can assist us in visiting their corner of the world to present full-day awareness trainings on the complexities of developmental trauma. Most clinicians do not know how to assess the differences of RAD and other diagnoses.  The awareness workshop will open the eyes of professionals and extended family members with the hope that a paradigm shift can happen in supporting adoptive parents. Our awareness workshops often result in more specific training for clinicians, agencies, and even program development opportunities similar to the successful treatment program Forrest Lien has developed.

Expert legal testimony—Adopted children who suffer from reactive attachment disorder (RAD) manage their surroundings out of a survival mechanism and to feel safe and in control. Many children with RAD falsely accuse their adoptive parents of abuse and neglect as a result. The children often inadvertently sabotage their own healing and healthy family placements. We provide legal testimony to educate judges and juries about this dynamic in the best interest of the child and his or her adoptive family