Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT) is a manualized, empirically supported therapy model researched and designed by Drs. Guy Diamond, Gary Diamond, and Suzanne Levy. Originally developed as a model to address the systemic protective factors surrounding adolescent depression and suicidality, ABFT focuses on repairing attachment ruptures between the client and their attachment figures. 

ABFT is based in interpersonal theories of psychology that suggest suicide and depression in adolescents can be buffered against by improving the quality of an adolescent’s interpersonal family relationships. By facilitating the repair of ruptures in secure attachment and creating a framework to prevent future ruptures, ABFT therapists help families develop the skills to improve symptoms within the context of the family. 

Treatment is characterized by 5 treatment tasks:

1. Reframing the therapy to focus on interpersonal development.

2. Building an alliance with the adolescent.

3. Building an alliance with the parents.

4. Facilitating conversations to resolve the attachment ruptures.

5. Promoting autonomy and competency in the adolescent.

ABFT is listed as a “proven” treatment by the Promising Practices Network and has received a quality of research score of 3.5 for depression, 3.6 for suicide ideation, and 4.0 for readiness for dissemination by the SAMHSA’s NREPP.

To learn more about ABFT: https://abftinternational.com/what-is-abft/