Mark is a founder of the Attachment and Trauma Specialists, an internationally recognized agency specializing in the treatment of youth and adults with attachment and trauma related issues. Mark has worked with foster, adopted and at-risk youth for over 22 years; much of this time involved working with severely neglected and abused children in various group homes and residential facilities. Mark has also worked for the Washington State Department of Children and Family Services as a Child Protective Services (CPS) and Child Welfare Services (CWS) social worker.
Mark currently serves on multiple boards and teams addressing child welfare issues, including a Child Protection Team (CPT) through the Department of Children and Family Services and various Wraparound teams. He has received his Master's degree from the University of Washington, Seattle, with a specialization degree in Child and Adolescent Mental Health.
Mark's expertise is working with children and adults who have experienced trauma, have attachment issues, and have trouble interacting in the family and/or social groups. Many of these children struggle with grief, anger, depression, low self-esteem, lying and manipulative behaviors, and can be socially and emotionally withdrawn. Mark lectures to foster/adoptive parents and other professionals in the field teaching them how to address these problems, and runs social skills groups for kids to support their healthy development. He provides consultation and trainings both nationally and internationally on attachment and trauma issues in children, and is a strong proponent of working collaboratively with others in an effort to surround children with wrap-around support.
Mark and his wife Monica are adoptive parents of a child from the foster care system who is now 20, and fully appreciate the difficulties and rewards of raising a child from an unstable background.
In Mark's words:
To be able to understand what a child is trying to communicate is the most satisfying feeling one can have. There is no kid or situation that is hopeless; it is simply a matter of us taking a step back to assess what language is being spoken. Kids and adults from traumatic and dysfunctional childhoods often speak the language of hurt, pain, loss and mistrust. We need to put our preconceptions aside to be receptive to their communication. Only then can we truly understand their needs.
You can contact Mark at:
(800) 550-2105 #11
mark@attachmentandtraumaspecialists.com
ARTICLE IN APRIL ISSUE
