We are here to help children and adults who struggle to develop healthy attachments with others because of missed essential building blocks due to loss, neglect, abuse, trauma and developmental challenges. We foster in people the capacity to receive, hold and offer to others: safety, comfort, warmth, value and joy.

Our work is centered on the building blocks, or the core psychological experiences and capacities that are necessary to develop a stable and resilient sense of self. These capacities, called “Object Relations, Self-Permanence and Constancy,” are fundamental to how individuals perceive themselves and those around them, and are directly related to one’s capacity to receive, hold and offer to others: safety, comfort, warmth, value and joy. We believe that understanding the essence of normal child development and recreating missed experiences to develop necessary skills are critical steps in working with people who have missed essential building blocks due to early childhood loss, neglect, abuse, developmental challenges, or trauma.

Our goal is to raise awareness of the "van Gulden Model" - using Structural Object Relations to address deficits and the capacity to attach- and offer assistance to parents, children, and the professionals who work with them. We hope to create a sense of community for families and professionals that will facilitate interaction and provide knowledge and support. This web site will provide information in the form of articles, case studies, educational opportunities, books, tools, art, music and other resources that can be utilized in the process of healing.