Restoring Parent-Child Bonds After Trauma: Insights from Jessica Drachenberg, LMFT and Child Therapist in Chicago land

As a therapist in Chicago, I have often seen how the effects of trauma can linger in someone’s body and life experiences for years, especially when left unattended. Sadly, trauma can occur at a very early age, disrupting parent-child relationships and the progression of natural human development. To enjoy the loving and fulfilling relationships we all desire, early intervention can dramatically change the story.

In this blog series, I am highlighting several professionals in the Chicago metro area who will share how their work with children, adolescents, or adults can help cultivate thriving relationships.

Interview with Jessica Drachenberg, LMFT and Early Child Specialist in Chicagoland

I have the pleasure of introducing you to my friend and colleague, Jessica Drachenberg, a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in early childhood trauma and parent-child attachment relationships in Illinois. Jessica has been practicing for over 10 years in the greater Chicagoland area and Phoenix, Arizona.

How did you choose your specialty of working with children and families? 

While my undergraduate degree is in Applied Psychology with a minor in Spanish, becoming a family therapist was the last thing on my mind. All that changed through my international work in Asia-Pacific, where national partners I worked with often shared the struggles they faced in providing resources to families in dire need of support. As I continued to hear this need repeated in country after country, I paused and asked God, “How would you like to use me to meet this need since you’re bringing it to my attention repeatedly?” From there, I found a graduate degree program in Marriage and Family Therapy at Wheaton College with the purpose of being a resource to the international community.

Why did you decide to practice family therapy in the greater Chicagoland area?

After seven years of honing my skills in therapy and receiving specialized training in early childhood trauma in Arizona, I accepted a position at Wheaton College’s Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic. This clinic is a training facility for master’s level graduate students in the application and practice of Marriage and Family Therapy.

We train students from around the world, most of whom return to their home nations. I introduce them to my specialty in early childhood work, providing early intervention to support the long-term trajectory of the child and family’s life. I am literally a resource to our students from around the world – including the United States – to support families with young children in gaining health and healing.

What kind of counseling services do you provide and to what ages?

At the Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic at Wheaton College, I provide direct client care to families with children of all ages (0-18 and well into adulthood) and supervise our advanced interns in their second year of study in the Marriage and Family Therapy discipline.
We support individuals, couples/parent relationships, as well as entire families or subsections of the family (parent/child, siblings, etc.). I use play therapy techniques and sensory engagement to create a calm and supportive environment, helping families get unstuck from their current patterns of functioning.

What is your favorite kind of specialized training and how does it impact your work with children?

I love trainings that are practical for clients and their families, as well as those that have been vetted through evidence-based practices. Some of my all-time favorites include Circle of Security – Parenting (COS-P), Child-Parent Psychotherapy, and the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics, and here’s why:

COS-P is practical and has eight lessons to share with groups of parents/caregivers, child-care workers, or anyone who works with young children. It was created to be accessible, practical, and understandable for any parent – regardless of age.

Child-Parent Psychotherapy has gifted me with the ability to walk parents and their young children (5 and under) through traumatic events using their attachment relationship as the vehicle for healing and change. I truly believe that relationships have the power to hurt and to heal. It’s remarkable to see how relationships can be corrective, healing, and restorative for children and their parents. I've seen the child and the family’s life trajectory change with this early intervention.

The Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics considers all aspects of the child's life (relationship, environment, development, experiences, and genetics/physiology) to create a working understanding of how traumatic experiences impact their life and brain function. Once the assessment is completed, recommendations for interventions include changes for the child, their home environment, and possibly their school or place of work to aid in healing. While I am no longer certified to provide NMT assessments, the framework of this training has supported my approach to children with trauma and their families.

How does your counseling service help people with trauma?

As I’ve shared, I believe that relationships have the power to hurt or to heal in our lives. One of my aspirations with clients and families is that they experience relationships differently while working with me – and hopefully, that experience will be healing for them and they can replicate it in other areas of life.

I take it slow, meet people where they are, and support them in taking the next step on their journey toward health and wholeness. We all come to the table with our own stories and life experiences, and I believe people make sense when we know their stories.

What do you love about working with children and their families?

What I love most about the work I do with early childhood family systems, is that there’s such hope, redemption, and ability to impact the trajectory of the child’s life and the family’s life with early intervention. Even the smallest of changes can have a greater impact simply because it has started sooner rather than later. 

In your experience, what are some important considerations when working with children?

Often, when trauma occurs in the life of a young child, other systems or agencies are involved, such as DCFS or juvenile/family court due to custody disputes. Since I believe therapy is a sacred and safe place of healing, I ask that parents/legal guardians honor this by not involving the court system in custody disputes. It’s a case-by-case basis for other court involvement within therapy due to trauma and ways in which therapy could advocate, give voice to, or support the health and well-being of a young child who’s experienced trauma.

Other considerations include the wrap-around care needed for the family: interfacing with DCFS caseworkers, lawyers, medical doctors (pediatricians, developmental pediatricians, or specialists), as well as daycare or school systems. I need to be realistic in assessing my ability to appropriately support a family and their situation. I have learned what is beyond my scope and communicate with the family what’s within and outside of my ability to support.

What would you say to someone who is hesitant about seeking child therapy in Chicago?

The goal of early childhood trauma work and parent-child attachment work is to be supportive, non-judgmental, and helpful for the family – shame and blame have no place here.
I continue to walk with families through life’s journey as long as the family desires me to be there, and we mutually see it as a good fit for me to continue with them in their progress. I see it as a humble honor to be invited into a family’s life as a trusted voice in the shaping and development of their family’s story.

What do you wish people knew about services with you?

There are no age restrictions for bringing your child and family in for therapy. Often, when people search for a child therapist, they find that it’s geared towards school-age children – roughly starting at around age 8-12. The youngest client I’ve worked with was three weeks old within the structure of their parents/caregivers.

The attachment relationship (the child’s bond and the parent’s attachment) is so important and critical for survival and developmental growth in the earliest days, weeks, and months of a child’s life. I don’t want to delay if the parent/caregiver sees a need or is concerned about the wellbeing of their child.

How can people contact you to learn more about your services?

Find out more through our website: http://www.mftclinic.com Click on: Contact Us – to fill out our online form to get started in therapy or call us at 630-733-8161.

Read my bio as a therapist here and as a supervisor here.

More about Jessica

Jessica is currently working on incorporating her dog, Amory, into therapy by becoming an Animal Assisted Psychotherapist and getting her certified as a therapy dog to support the trauma and attachment work she does with families with young children. They are in the beginning stages of this journey, which Jessica says “is exciting”!

Final Thoughts from a therapist in chicago

When working with trauma, early childhood intervention can help heal the parent-child bond, set up the family unit for success, and support a child’s healthy development.
I hope this interview with Jessica Drachenberg has given you valuable insights into the importance of early childhood trauma work. Her dedication and ability in this field are truly inspiring.

Investing in your child’s mental, physical, and emotional health is a loving and powerful step towards a happier, healthier family life. Don't hesitate to reach out and start the journey toward healing and a brighter future for your family.

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Lisaura is a Therapist in Chicago specializing in incorporating movement and the mind-body connection to help people heal, improve their relationships, and feel more whole. Lisaura offers individual relationship counseling, couples counseling, premarital counseling, and dance therapy to help adults connect with themselves and others deeply.

Faith-based therapy and Spanish-speaking services are available.