In this foundational episode of Regulated & Relational, Ginger and Julie dive deep into attachment disorders—what they are, how they’re diagnosed, and the realities families face when raising children with these challenges.

From the history of Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) and Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder (DSED) to the proposed Developmental Trauma Disorder (DTD), Ginger and Julie unpack decades of evolving research, personal experience, and practical tools for caregivers and professionals. They also address the hallmark behaviors—like manipulation, triangulation, lack of empathy—and explore why these behaviors occur, and how to respond in ways that promote healing and connection.

This conversation is both honest and hopeful—acknowledging the challenges while sharing effective therapeutic parenting strategies, the importance of pacing and dosing nurture, and the long-term potential for growth and change.

The history and evolution of attachment disorder diagnoses in the DSM
How RAD and DSED differ—and why splitting the diagnosis has caused confusion
Prevalence rates and why research has been limited
How attachment disorders can be mistaken for, or co-exist with, autism
The why behind hallmark behaviors:

Manipulation and control
Triangulation between adults
Lack of cause-and-effect thinking
Low empathy

Therapeutic parenting strategies, including:

Offering limited, safe choices
Making implicit care explicit
Pacing and dosing nurture to build trust
Reducing chaos and avoiding power struggles

Why Developmental Trauma Disorder matters—and how it may fill gaps in our understanding of trauma’s impact on children
Hopeful outcomes and the critical importance of early intervention and ongoing support

Attachment & Trauma Network: www.attachmenttraumanetwork.org
National Institute of Health prevalence statistics (2023)
Reactive Attachment Disorder - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537155/ (Published: May 1, 2023)
Introduction to children's attachment - NCBI: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK356196/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537155/#:~:text=Epidemiology,Adolescent%20Well%2DBeing%2C%20No.
Research on RAD subtypes: Dr. Charles Zeanah (2004)https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4342270/
ACEs Study: CDC ACEs Resources

Ep 101: What you need to know about Attachment Disorders

Regulated & Relational