Attachment-Based Family Therapy for Adolescent Depression, Suicidality, and Trauma

Family therapists have increasingly turned to attachment theory to understand individual and familial development, negative interactional cycles that reinforce distress, and clinical strategies for resolving interpersonal conflict. Attachment theory views intrapsychic development and interpersonal experience as intimately linked in an ongoing, transitional interaction. The interactions between family members affect how each person feels about themselves as well as others. This, in turn, affects how family members interact with one another. 

Attachment theory also helps family therapists understand how the emotional needs for connection and acknowledgment often drive behavior. In this way, attachment and emotional processing theories have become key to cutting-edge clinical practice. Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT) has put these theories into practice. This empirically-supported model uses attachment theory to facilitate conversations about core attachment ruptures that are blocking parent-child trust, thus undermining the day-to-day functioning of familial relationships. 

In this two-hour continuing education web conference, Dr. Guy Diamond will explain the deeply interpersonal and trauma-focused ABFT model, which is structured to allow therapists to help family members discuss core interpersonal problems in a brief therapy context .Dr. Diamond will highlight the five treatment tasks that structure ABFT:

• relational reframing
• alliance building with the adolescent
• alliance building with the parent(s)
• attachment repairing
• promoting autonomy 

Dr. Diamond will describe how each task has a clinical map and goals to guide the therapist’s interventions while also sharing the clinical strategies needed to deliver them.

This introductory instructional level course is designed to help clinicians:

1. Explain how attachment and emotional processing theories can inform family therapy. 
2. Outline the overarching clinical framework and goals of ABFT.
3. Discuss empirical support and clinical evidence for the practice of ABFT and the five treatment tasks.
4. Recognize the need to focus therapy on interpersonal growth rather than behavioral management.
5. Apply specific strategies for facilitating the repair of interpersonal ruptures.

If you have any questions or concerns about this web conference or would like more information, please contact us here.

Event Reviews from Members

Refreshing to see evidence-based therapy generated from attachment theory! - Amanda L Carver, MEd, CCC, RP

Very good. Clear, interesting, integrated theoretical models. - Paula Catalan, LCPC, CP

Continuing Education (CE) Information

Two CE credits will be provided by GoodTherapy.org for attending this web conference in its entirety.

GoodTherapy.org is an Approved Education Provider by NAADAC, The Association for Addiction Professionals (provider #135463). Of the eight counselor skill groups ascribed to by NAADAC, this course is classified within counseling services.

GoodTherapy.org has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6380. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. GoodTherapy.org is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

GoodTherapy.org is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. GoodTherapy.org maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

GoodTherapy.org, SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #0395.

To receive CE credit hours for an archived event, you will need to complete a survey as well as a 12 or 15-question exam, verifying that you listened to or watched the event in its entirety. Archived CE events generally are considered "homestudy" by licensing boards.

Registration Information

Premium and Pro Membership with GoodTherapy includes access to this web conference at no additional cost, as well as other member benefits such as a profile listing in GoodTherapy's Therapist Directory. Not yet a member? Sign up for a Premium or Pro Membership, here.

Just want CE credits? Sign up for a monthly or annual CE Subscription with GoodTherapy to get unlimited access to our CE Program, including this event, other live CE web conferences, and hundreds of hours of homestudy courses.

Mental health professionals who are not members can access the homestudy recording for $15.50. Sign up here to purchase this CE course and earn a CE certificate.

If the event is canceled by GoodTherapy, registrants who purchased the event will be notified and the charge for the event will be refunded

If you have any questions or would like information regarding disability accommodations, please contact us.

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