Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP)
DDP is a model of therapy developed by Dan Hughes, a Clinical Psychologist, and is based on psychological ideas around attachment, developmental trauma and intersubjectivity between a child and their caregiver(s). Children who have experienced abuse and neglect within their early primary caregiver relationships learn that the world is unsafe, affecting their ability to form safe and secure attachments. They may have learned that to survive they need to shut down their emotional systems and work hard to keep people at a distance. They may crave closeness and intimacy but at the same time fear it, resulting in them experiencing high levels of emotional arousal and engaging in ‘push-pull’ dynamics with their carers. They may also present controlling behaviours in an attempt to form a sense of security. Parents and carers may find it hard to connect with their child and feel lost in how to manage their behaviours. Traditional parenting approaches which rely on trust and emotional connection rarely work with children with such adverse early experiences.
