Overview

Now offering all trainings as webinars!

Welcome to the ABFT Training Program. We offer a variety of workshops, webinars, and other training opportunities related to attachment-based family therapy (ABFT), attachment-informed milieu training, and youth suicide prevention. We also now offer a specialized university program for graduate students and their professors. You can find descriptions of all of our current programs below.

Check out the ABFT Training Program's Guidance on conducting ABFT via Telehealth and managing Covid-19 related stress here.

Brief Overview of ABFT

Attachment-based family therapy (ABFT) is a manualized, empirically supported family therapy model specifically designed to target family and individual processes associated with adolescent suicide and depression. ABFT emerges from interpersonal theories that suggest adolescent and young adult internalizing disorders (e.g., depression, suicide, trauma, anxiety) can be precipitated, exacerbated or buffered against by the quality of interpersonal relationships in families. It has also been used where family conflict is a contributor to the presenting problem. It is a trust-based, emotion-focused psychotherapy model that aims to repair interpersonal ruptures and rebuild an emotionally protective, secure-based parent–child relationship.

ABFT is listed on several national and international recommended treatment lists.

United States
- Listed in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): Evidence-Based Resource Guide for Treatment for Suicidal Ideation, Self-harm, and Suicide Attempts Among Youth
- The (former) National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP) determined that ABFT is a program with effective outcomes for suicidal thoughts and behaviors and depression symptoms
- ABFT is classified as a “proven practice” on the Promising Practices Network (PPN) run by the Rand Corporation
- The California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse (CEBC) for Child Welfare has rated ABFT as a treatment with promising research evidence for adolescent depression
- Listed in the CDC – Preventing Suicide: A Technical Package of Policy, Programs, and Practices
- Listed in the Zero Suicide Care Training Options
International
- Listed in the Swedish Guidelines for treatment of depression
- CYP IAPT recommended evidenced based treatment in England

In 2014, the official ABFT manual was published by APA under the title “Attachment-Based Family Therapy for Depressed Adolescents”. This is a great resource for learning about ABFT.

Attachment-Based Family Therapy Training

Attachment-Based Care (ABC) Milieu Training

Youth Suicide Prevention Training

Continuing Education Information

Level I: 1-Day and 3-Day Introductory Workshops and 1-Day Webinar

Psychologists

Drexel University College of Medicine, Behavioral Healthcare Education is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Drexel University College of Medicine, Behavioral Healthcare Education maintains responsibility for the program and its content. This program is being offered for 6.5 (Day 1/1- day), 12.25 (Days 2 and 3), or 18.75 (Days 1, 2 & 3) hours of continuing education. The full day webinar is offered for 6.5 hours of continuing education. The 3-part, 2-hour webinar series is offered for 6 hours of continuing education.

Pennsylvania State Board LMFT/LCSW/LSW/LPC

Drexel University Couple and Family Therapy department is a Pre-approved Provider by the Pennsylvania State Board of Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Professional Counselors of Continuing Education Credits.

For LMFT, LCSW, LSW, and LPCs: The workshop qualifies for the following continuing education credits: 7 CEU’s for Day One only, 12.5 CEU’s for Days two and three only, and 19.5 total CEU’s for all three days. The full day webinar is offered for 7 hours of continuing education. The 3-part, 2-hour webinar series is offered for 6 hours of continuing education.

A Certificate of Participation will be emailed to all who attend and follow protocol for registration and evaluation forms.

Drexel University Couple and Family Therapy department maintains responsibility for the program and content. Accreditation does not imply that Drexel College of Nursing and Health Professions approves or endorses any product included in the educational activity.

Level II: 3-Day Advanced Workshop

Psychologists

Pennsylvania State Board LMFT/LCSW/LSW/LPC

Drexel University’s Couple and Family Therapy Department is a Pre-approved Provider by the Pennsylvania State Board of Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Professional Counselors of Continuing Education Credits. For LMFT, LCSW, LSW, and LPCs: The workshop qualifies for the following continuing education credits: 22.25 total CEU’s for all three days. A Certificate of Participation will be awarded at the end of the presentation to all who attend and follow protocol for registration and evaluation forms.

Drexel University Couple and Family Therapy Department maintains responsibility for the program and content. Accreditation does not imply that Drexel College of Nursing and Health Professions approves or endorses any product included in the educational activity.

ABFT Online Training Program for Individuals

Coming soon!

Youth Suicide Prevention Workshop

Psychologists

Pennsylvania State Board LMFT/LCSW/LSW/LPC

Drexel University’s Counseling and Family Therapy Department is a Pre-approved Provider by the Pennsylvania State Board of Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Professional Counselors of Continuing Education Credits. For LMFT, LCSW, LSW, and LPCs: The workshop qualifies for the following continuing education credits: 6.5 CEU’s. A Certificate of Participation will be emailed after the workshop to all who attend and follow protocol for registration and evaluation forms.

Drexel University Counseling and Family Therapy Department maintains responsibility for the program and content. Accreditation does not imply that Drexel College of Nursing and Health Professions approves or endorses any product included in the educational activity.

Contact Information

For additional information about:

any of the training opportunities listed above or
inquires about how ABFT or the ABC Milieu program can be effectively implemented in your agency or
if you are interested in a specialized training program for your organization

please contact Suzanne Levy, PhD, the ABFT Training Director, at 215.571.3415 or slevy@drexel.edu.