The , often encapsulated in his flagship Making Sense of Kids intensive, is an attachment-based developmental model that shifts the focus from managing a child's behavior to understanding the underlying relational and developmental needs.
For a child to feel safe, they must be in a "dependent" role, while the parent takes the "alpha" or provider role. Problems like bullying often stem from a "stuck" alpha complex in children who don't feel they can lean on their adults. The Gordon Neufeld Approach: Making Sense of Ch...
The primary need for contact and connection. Neufeld identifies six stages of attachment that deepen as a child matures: proximity, sameness, belonging/loyalty, significance, love, and being known. The , often encapsulated in his flagship Making
The emotional state of being open to hurt. When a child's world is too wounding, their brain may employ "defensive detachment" to shut down vulnerable feelings, which can stall maturation. 2. The Relationship-First Paradigm The primary need for contact and connection
The process of becoming a separate, viable, and integrated individual. The approach argues that maturation is spontaneous if conditions are conducive, rather than something that can be forced.
Below is an overview of the core principles typically covered in a paper on this approach. 1. The Three Conceptual Keys