Attachment-based family therapy for lesbian and gay young adults and their persistently nonaccepting parents.

Abstract

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.

Rejected by Family for Being Gay or Lesbian: Portrayals, Perceptions, and Resilience

“…One particular evidencebased model to consider is Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT; Diamond, Reis, Diamond, Siqueland, & Isaacs, 2002), particularly because it has been proposed as a useful model in the treatment of persistently rejecting parents of LGB individuals (Diamond & Shpigel, 2014). ABFT involves repairing the child-parent attachment relationship, and promoting psychological autonomy and competency (Diamond & Shpigel, 2014;see Diamond, Diamond, & Levy, 2014, for treatment manual and greater explanation).…”

“…One particular evidencebased model to consider is Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT; Diamond, Reis, Diamond, Siqueland, & Isaacs, 2002), particularly because it has been proposed as a useful model in the treatment of persistently rejecting parents of LGB individuals (Diamond & Shpigel, 2014). ABFT involves repairing the child-parent attachment relationship, and promoting psychological autonomy and competency (Diamond & Shpigel, 2014;see Diamond, Diamond, & Levy, 2014, for treatment manual and greater explanation). This is achieved by working through five treatment tasks which involve shifting focus of therapy to the parent-child relationship, building alliances with both the parent(s) and the child, increasing attachment of the child to the parent, and helping parents provide a secure base for their child (Diamond & Shpigel, 2014).…”

“…ABFT involves repairing the child-parent attachment relationship, and promoting psychological autonomy and competency (Diamond & Shpigel, 2014;see Diamond, Diamond, & Levy, 2014, for treatment manual and greater explanation). This is achieved by working through five treatment tasks which involve shifting focus of therapy to the parent-child relationship, building alliances with both the parent(s) and the child, increasing attachment of the child to the parent, and helping parents provide a secure base for their child (Diamond & Shpigel, 2014).…”

After coming out: Parental acceptance of young lesbian and gay people

“…Some parents agree to undergo counseling and therapy specially designed for families with lesbian and gay children. Diamond et al () and Diamond and Shpigel () observed that, generally, young lesbian and gay people might show more interest and do more research on therapeutic interventions than their parents do. Harboring a strong desire for parental acceptance, a lesbian/gay person may persuade their parents to participate in family counseling.…”

“…The acceptance of a partnered lesbian/gay child may also include numerous financial and social benefits that parents generally extend to their child after marriage (Serovich et al, 1993). This acceptance may also stem from the parental perceptions of the child's transitioning to maturity and a stable social life, as identified by Diamond and Shpigel (2014) and Einarsdóttir (2016).…”