When a Child Cannot Trust

Off the Couch Psychology · Sep 29, 2026 · 1m

What happens when a child learns early in life that the people they need most cannot always be trusted?

In this episode of Off the Couch Psychology Podcast, you'll get a clearer understanding of Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD), a condition associated with severe disruptions in early caregiving and a child's ability to form healthy attachments. You'll learn what RAD can look like beyond the labels of "defiant," "cold," or "unloving," and why some children may reject the very comfort they desperately need.

We'll look at what may be happening in the developing brain, how early neglect and…