Working with Traumatized Mothers and Their Babies in a Residential Drug Rehabilitation Facility

Abstract

For one year, I led a mother-baby group at a residential drug rehabilitation facility. All of the mothers had suffered extreme childhood relational trauma, had lost their older children to foster care, and were now agreeing to residential treatment in hope that they could retain custody of their babies. The mothers were very wary of me when we first started. They saw no value in meeting and sharing their thoughts and feelings. Over time they grew to appreciate the group. This article tracks the process that they, their babies and I went through to co-create a meaningful therapeutic experience.

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Andrea Remez

Andrea Remez is a member of the faculty and a clinical supervisor at the National Institute for the Psychotherapies and a graduate of the Anni Bergman Parent-Infant Training Program. Dr. Remez sees parent/infant dyads, young children, adults, and couples in private practice.