Review: Attachment in Common Sense and Doodles: A Practical Guide

Attachment theory made accessible

Miriam Silver is a consultant clinical psychologist who has spent many years working with looked-after and adopted children. Her passion for supporting parents to build secure attachments with their children comes across clearly in this book. Complex ideas are conveyed with clarity, using examples from her own clinical practice and personal life. The work shows an impressive knowledge of attachment research, but also neurobiology and the developmental research into the consequences of early neglect and abuse.

The idea of presenting the key concepts of attachment theory in a series of doodles might sound like a gimmick, but in fact reflects Silver's commitment to finding ways to share what attachment theory has taught us about relationships and early development in a language that can be understood by those who are not academics. She is especially concerned to find ways to communicate with fostered and adopted children - and those who care for them - in a way that can engage with their own experiences and create the possibility of meaningful emotional contact.