This study examined whether Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT) was associated with decreases in maternal psychological control and increases in maternal psychological autonomy granting, and whether such changes were associated with changes in adolescents' attachment schema and psychological symptoms. Eighteen suicidal adolescents and their mothers received 12 weeks of ABFT. Maternal psychological control and autonomy granting behaviors were observationally coded at sessions 1 and 4. Adolescents' reports of perceived maternal care and control, attachment-related anxiety and avoidance, and depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation were collected at baseline, 6, 12 weeks (posttreatment), and 36 weeks. Results indicated that from session 1 to session 4, maternal psychological control decreased and maternal psychological autonomy granting increased. Increases in maternal autonomy granting were associated with increases in adolescents' perceived parental care from pre to mid-treatment and decreases in attachment-related anxiety and avoidance from pre to 3 months posttreatment. Finally, decreases in adolescents' perceived parental control during the treatment were associated with reductions in adolescents' depressive symptoms from pretreatment to 12 weeks posttreatment. This is the first study examining the putative change mechanisms in ABFT.

Describes a modification of attachment-based family therapy for working with sexual minority young adults and their persistently nonaccepting parents. The goal of the treatment is to improve the quality of young-adult-parent relationships and promote connection and mutual acceptance. We provide a brief overview of the treatment tasks that comprise the model, describe the rationale behind each task and how it is implemented, offer clinical excerpts, and conclude with thoughts about the limits of the model and future challenges.

NegevNonaccepting parents of sexual minority children typically attribute their child's same-sex orientation to external causes (e.g., early childhood experiences, peer pressure) and perceive sexual orientation as mutable and under their child's control. Using scientific findings to introduce the possibility that sexual orientation may be, at least to some degree, biologically influenced, not a matter of choice and not under the child's control, can reduce blame and anger and elicit empathy among these parents. This article provides therapists with an abbreviated summary of the extant research findings on the association between biology and sexual orientation, and on the results of sexual orientation change efforts, written in easily accessible language of the type we use when working with nonaccepting parents. In addition, we discuss the clinical issues therapists must consider when deciding how and when to introduce such information. Finally, we present a case study to illustrate this therapeutic process.

Clinical implications are discussed.