About Taboo Therapeutic Services

Dyadic therapy begins with getting to know how the parent perceives their infant or child, and how they understand and respond to the child’s behavior. During therapy sessions, the therapist and parent observe the baby together, and the therapist listens to the parent’s explanation of their child’s behavior with respect, empathic concern, and positive regard, creating a safe environment.

As the therapist and the parent observe the young child together, the therapist reinforces perceptions that are attuned and in sync with the child, and helps to support the relationship. When the parent’s observations and perceptions appear distorted, the therapist can create a space for the parent to reflect on the accuracy. For example, does the baby’s cry indicate she is tired? Or is she hungry? As the therapist gently explores alternative interpretations of an infant or child’s behavior, she provides a natural corrective experience for the parent that is helpful but not judgmental.

Often, when a parent’s perceptions are distorted, it is because their own needs were not met when they were a young child. With dyadic therapy, the therapist helps the parent distinguish current thoughts and feelings from past relationships, and helps the parent form positive ideas about themselves, their baby, and their self in relationship to others, especially their child.

Dyadic therapy helps parents meet their own psychological and practical needs so they can be fully attuned to their children. The quality of the parent/child relationship has everything to do with secure attachment and emotional regulation,1, 2 which support the critical first two years of brain development.3,4

As a result of the dyadic therapy process, parents can expand their sensitivity to their young children as well as how they respond. When we identify and treat these dyads early, we create positive outcomes for both the parent and baby—and a more joyful experience of child-rearing and childhood along the way.