Attachment-Based Family Therapy

Attachment-based family therapy (ABFT) is an empirically supported brief, clinical model of family therapy. It is a trust-based, emotion-focused approach, and the goal is to repair interpersonal ruptures and rebuild emotionally protective, secure-based parent–child relationships. It is based on the idea that strong family relationships buffer against risk factors for mental health problems. From this perspective, strong relationships within families can be a barrier against interpersonal problems and assist with treatment success. However, ruptures in secure attachments increase the risk for pathology. The model was first created for treatment of abused and neglected children living in foster or adoptive care and for working with depressed adolescents. However, this approach can be used with all families to create supportive communication, assist with affect regulation, and teach ...