An exploration of the value of Marte Meo Therapy in establishing, re-establishing and supporting attachment relationships

‘firstly identify and then activate and develop caregivers’ skills’

From an article by Geraldine Maughan in Children’s Research Network:

"The effectiveness of Marte Meo Therapy (MMT) in treating attachment relationships has not yet been researched in Ireland. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore what role, if any, MMT has in establishing, re-establishing and  supporting attachments between caregivers and their children.

"Pertinent previous work and current thinking on attachment theory was reviewed and suggested approaches in which the Marte Meo method may provide a practical application of this theory. MMT and attachment will be briefly outlined. It will then be discussed how MMT can assist caregivers form attachments with their children. However, MMT should not be assimilated into attachment theory or any other theories without further research.

"Marte Meo

"Maria Aarts (1996) developed the Marte Meo method in 1987. The words Marte Meo are selected from the Latin ‘Mars Martis’ to express the idea of “on one’s own strength”. The name was chosen with the intention of highlighting the central focus of the method, which is to firstly identify and then activate and develop caregivers’ skills, which enable and enhance constructive interaction and development between caregivers and their children.

"MMT is deemed a communications approach to child development, which focuses on the quality of interaction between child and caregiver. Situations are filmed and then analysed second-by-second to identify points in the communication where changes may be affected to improve child caregiver interactions and also answer the caregiver’s question, which is frequently around behavioural interactions such as “how do I get my child to listen or take direction?” Usually, this question is the caregiver’s means of asking “how do I connect with my child?” which is often the primary reason for the intervention...."

Read more here.