Case File // Attachment Bonding Assessment
Every child's behavior is a message written in code. Some codes were written by trauma. We break them.
Dr. Franklin Edward Shoemaker, PhD, LMHC-QS · TF-CBT · Adoption Competent
They said "just love them more."
It wasn't enough.
It never is.
Love is the fuel. Structure, co-regulation & honest narratives are the engine.A specialized, comprehensive clinical evaluation of the quality, security, and functioning of attachment bonds between children and their caregivers — biological, foster, adoptive, or kinship.
Secure, insecure, disorganized, or disordered — identified, named, and explained in plain language.
How maltreatment, loss, placement changes, or trauma shaped the child's relational capacity.
Bonding behaviors, co-regulation, and caregiver responsiveness — observed in real interaction.
Developmental, behavioral, and emotional indicators relevant to Reactive Attachment Disorder, Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder, and complex trauma.
A balanced picture: what's working, what's at stake, and what the relationship can become.
Clear recommendations for therapy, placement stability, parenting strategies, or court-related decisions.
Expert opinions on bonding, attachment capacity, and placement suitability.
Clarity on relational dynamics and the support your family actually needs.
Specialized consultation on complex attachment cases for therapists and psychiatrists.
Insight for teams working with attachment-challenged students.
When attachment disruption impacts safety, functioning, reunification, or adoption stability.
+ years in the trenches. Since 1992.
Residential treatment. Therapeutic foster care. Community mental health. School-based services. Private practice. Therapy, annual assessments, safety planning, and coordination with agencies, schools, and medical providers.
The bond broke. The assessment shows exactly where — and what it takes to rebuild it. Elevating Trauma to Trust.
Submit a professional or agency referral describing the clinical question, case context, and reason for the Attachment Bonding Assessment. Contact the office or email to begin the referral process.
Answer structured questions that define scope. Your answers determine case acceptance and proposed costs.
Once Dr. Shoemaker accepts the case, a formal funding authorization from the referring agency (or private payer) covering the proposed costs is required prior to initiating any assessment activities.
Comprehensive review of background materials — the foundation for clinical interviews and observations.
Clinical evaluation — interviews, observation of interactions, record review, and expert analysis — followed by a detailed written report with findings and recommendations.
One child (includes up to 2 adults in the same household)
Per additional child and/or person
Flat charge per day reserved by Dr. Shoemaker, if required — billed to the funding agency
A quick ballpark. Final scope and cost are confirmed after intake.
Estimate only. Not a quote. Case acceptance and proposed costs are determined by Dr. Shoemaker after intake.
Agencies, courts, clinicians, and families — the first step is one call, text, or email.