Our Staff
Arthur Becker-Weidman, Ph.D. received his MSW from the University of Maryland at Baltimore and his Ph.D. from the University of Maryland’s Institute for Child Study. He has achieved Diplomate Status in Child Psychology and Forensic Psychology from the American Board of Psychological Specialties. He is a Registered Clinician with the Association for the Treatment and Training in the Attachment of Children.
Dr. Becker-Weidman has been treating the families of adoptive and foster children for over two decades. As Director of the Center For Family Development he consults with Department’s of Social Services, Residential Treatment Centers, and Mental Health Clinics throughout the US, Canada, Singapore, and Internationally. Dr. Becker-Weidman’s work has focused on the evaluation and treatment of adopted and foster children and their families, Complex-Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Alcohol Related Neurological Dysfunction (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder or FAS). He provides training and workshops to parents and professionals across the U.S. and internationally. He has consulted with the Canadian government in Ontario and with the government of Singapore. The results of an empirical study demonstrating the effectiveness of the approach he practices, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, can be found in several other publications in professional peer-reviewed publications.
Dr. Becker-Weidman is on the Board of Directors of the Association for the Treatment and Training in the Attachment of Children, serves as a Vice-President for Clinical Issues, serves on the Research Committee and Training Committee, and chairs the Registration Committee. He is an adjunct Clinical Professor at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Dr. Becker-Weidman is on the Board of the Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy Institute®© and is a Certified Therapist, Consultant, and Trainer of Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy®.
Dr. Becker-Weidman has published over a dozen papers in peer-reviewed professional journals and has presented at numerous international, regional, and local professional meetings. He also has two DVD’s to his credit, “Principles of Attachment Parenting,” (2006) and “Assessing Children with Complex Trauma and Attachment Disorder,” (2008). He is the co-editor of the book, Creating Capacity for Attachment, published by Wood ‘N’ Barnes in 2005, second printing 2008. He is finishing work with Deborah Shell on a book about Attachment-Facilitating Parenting that is expected to be published in 2010.
Dr. Becker-Weidman lives with his family in Williamsville, NY. He has three children, the youngest of whom as adopted from China fourteen years ago.
Susan Becker-Weidman, CSW-R, has several adoption related specialties. She is experienced in providing treatment to families with adoption issues. She is particularly interested in helping adult Adoptees and parents of younger Adoptees. She has experience in helping birth mothers in their decision making process and grieving process. She also prepares home studies that are accepted in all jurisdictions.
Laurie Johnson Krull, CSW, is an attachment therapist at The Center For Family Development. Ms. Krull has over ten years experience working with adopted and foster families. She received her MSW from Salem State in Massachusetts. Ms. Krull's work with high risk children includes evaluation and treatment. She has had extensive training and experience helping foster and adoptive families and in providing Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, an attachment-based therapy. One of Ms. Krull's areas of expertise is helping children and families address the impact of childhood trauma. She is a sensitive therapist who understands how trauma affects the lives of these children and teenagers and who is able to help them heal. Her approach includes extensive work with the children and with the family. Ms. Krull provides Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, an attachment-based therapy and is a key member of the treatment team that provides Two Week Intensives.
Jody Hansen-Walker, is our Family Specialist. She has been a foster parent for over six years. Jody and her spouse, Kevin, have successfully parented children with Reactive Attachment Disorder, some as young as three years of age. Jody has four adopted children, all of whom came with a variety of special needs and labels such as Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, ADHD, Failure to Thrive, and many others. When asked about this, Jody says, "What I have found is that many of the labels were actually behaviors that were caused by RAD." Effectively treat the attachment disorder and so many of the other issues, or red-herrings, seemed to vanish.
Parenting a child with Reactive Attachment Disorder is very stressful and Jody understands the importance of support for you and your family. Talking with other parents who have attachment disordered children is very helpful. Jody knows how difficult it can be to get family and friends to understand, and sometimes to believe, what your home life is like. Jody understands that rule one of parenting very challenging children, children who need to heal, is to take care of yourself.
You can contact Jody by e-mail at niagaraadoption@yahoo.com. Click here for more about therapeutic parenting.
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5820 Main Street, Suite 406
Williamsville, NY 14221
Office: 716-810-0790
Fax: 716-636-6243
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Last updated on: April 11, 2007
