ABFT Basics
What does ABFT stand for?
Attachment-Based Family Therapy
What is the focus of Task 1?
Relational Reframe: shifting focus from symptoms ("she's angry") to relationships ("she feels disconnected")
What do clients need before they can trust again?
Safety and validation
What is one key was BHSs support the ABFT process?
Helping clients regulate after emotional sessions
What might clients feel right after a family session?
Sad, angry, tired, relieved, or emotionally drained
What is the main goal of ABFT?
To repair ruptured trust and rebuild emotional connection between clients and families
In Task 2, who does the clinician meet with and why?
The client, to build trust and prepare them to open up emotionally
A client storms off after family therapy saying, "I hate my mom." What's the attachment lens on this?
They're overwhelmed by pain or fear of not being understood.
Should BHSs ask clients what was said in family therapy?
No; avoid prying, focus on emotional support, not content
What's a simple grounding activity you can offer after a tough session?
Boxed breathing
DBT TIPP skill
Sensory Grounding (5-4-3-2-1)
True or False: ABFT is only for depression
False - it also helps with trauma, suicidality, and family conflict
What is the goal of Task 3?
Parent Alliance: Clinician helps parents reflect on their role, reduce defensiveness, and learn empathy skills
Why might clients seem worse before they get better during ABFT?
They're confronting long-standing emotional pain; part of the healing process
Give an example of a validating statement a BHS could say
"That sounded really tough. It's okay to feel disappointed."
What's the best way to respond when a client says, "That session was awful"?
"That was a big session, it makes sense you feel that way"
What does ABFT focus on healing; behavior or relationship?
Relationship (which then reduces behavioral symptoms)
What happens during Task 5?
Promoting Autonomy: The family strengthens communication and supports the client's independence in a healthier way
Name one way attachment trauma can show up in behavior
- Anger
- Withdrawal
- Lack of impulse control
- Perfectionism
- Substance Use
Emotion = "That sounds painful"
Behavior = "You're right, your mom shouldn't have said that"
Why is consistency across shifts important after family therapy?
So clients experience predictable support and emotional safety no matter who's on shift
Why is ABFT an attachment-focused model?
Because it views emotional pain and acting out as symptoms of attachment ruptures
In which task does the emotional repair happen?
Task 4: The Attachment Task
When we see behavior as ____ instead of ____, our response changes
Pain instead of defiance
Why are BHSs considered part of the "attachment team?"
Attachment healing doesn't just happen in session. It happens in _____
every safe and consistent interaction we create