108: Attachment-Based Family Therapy Introductory Workshop

This introductory workshop reviews the theory, research and clinical strategies of attachment-based family therapy (ABFT). ABFT is the only manualized, empirically supported family therapy designed to target family and individual processes associated with adolescent depression and suicide. Tested with diverse families, including low-income and minority families, ABFT is a trust-based, emotion-focused, process-oriented brief therapy. The model is organized by five treatment tasks that provide directionality. Participants learn to use this model to help families repair interpersonal ruptures that have damaged trust and rebuild emotionally protective, secure parent–child relationships.

1. Explain the theoretical foundation of ABFT that guides therapists in therapy implementation.
2. Summarize the empirical support for ABFT.
3. Discuss the purpose of the five treatment tasks.
4. Describe the strategies used in the five treatment tasks.
5. Use emotions effectively in context of an attachment therapy.
6. Design therapy to focus on interpersonal growth rather than behavioral management.
7. Utilize issues of social justice in the context of an attachment therapy.

Guy S. Diamond, PhD, and Suzanne A. Levy, PhD, Drexel University