Bonding Assessments

Bonding assessments gauge the quality of the relationship between caretaker and child. It looks at whether or not the parent can provide what the child needs in the dimensions of nurture, structure, engagement and challenge. It also looks at how the child responds to the parents efforts.
Note: If caretaker in bonding assessment has been abusive or neglectful, allow sufficient time for both parties to have participated in individual therapy before recommending a Bonding Assessment. It is also required that the child participates in Theraplay treatment. Caretaker must be a “safe” person for the child.

​Recommended when:
  • The Indiana Department of Child Services wants additional information on the relationship to help determine whether to continue with reunification or file for termination of parental rights.
  • Therapist views interactions between parent and child as lacking or missing emotional connection after they have received services for some time.
  • Determine areas of concern in a parent/child relationship in order to make treatment recommendations.
Common treatment recommendations:
  • Theraplay treatment.
  • Parent education if parent cannot adequately provide what child needs.
  • Family therapy if it appears that parent and child need to address specific events, removal, trauma etc.
  • Specific goals of parent’s individual therapy when they cannot provide a specific need or needs to the child.
  • Specific goals of a child’s individual therapy.
  • Can be completed more than once: first as a baseline measurement and again to assess for progress.
North Office (Main)
1308 North Main Street
​Crown Point, IN 46307
Hammond Office (Satellite)
7025 Indianapolis Blvd
​Hammond, IN 46324
Contact Us 
Phone: (219) 663-6353
Fax: (219) 663-6155