Written by Erin Bader
A recent University of California-San Francisco study finds that Child-Parent Psychotherapy may slow down biological aging and prevent serious disease in children who have experienced trauma.
According to ACES research, traumatic experiences can have lasting effects on health and well-being in childhood and well into adulthood. The 45 children who received therapy as part of the UCSF study had less age acceleration than the 110 who didn’t.
“These findings bolster the case for making sure families who experience trauma and stress can access child-parent therapies, in order to improve mental and physical health,” said Bush, the Lisa and John Pritzker Distinguished Professor of Developmental and Behavioral Health.
This study helps to support the case for adoption competent mental health services for children with child welfare experience. Adoption competent mental health professionals understand that family-based, attachment-focused approaches are necessary in addressing the critical issues of trauma and attachment. They also acknowledge the vital role of parents in facilitating the child’s healing and supporting them by strengthening their capacity for therapeutic parenting and for communicative openness related to adoption.
To learn more about adoption competence and the National Center for Adoption Competent Mental Health Services, visit our website.
