Attachment-Focused Family Therapy

Attachment-Focused Family Therapy by Daniel A. Hughes is a ground-breaking work that expands attachment theory from individual therapy to a family therapy context. With over 20 years of clinical experience, he presents this comprehensive, accessible treatment model for working with families to resolve personal and family issues using principles from attachment theory and intersubjectivity.

Hughes emphasizes the importance of PACE—Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, and Empathy— as the core therapeutic stance in attachment-focused family therapy.

The book provides therapists with detailed strategies for fostering affective/reflective (a/r) dialogue, managing shame, and addressing childhood trauma within family dynamics. It also explores how to integrate parents into therapeutic conversations and encourages them to reflect on their own attachment histories to better support their children.

Using extensive case studies, vignettes, and sample dialogues, Hughes offers practical tools for creating psychological safety in therapy and helping parents develop the skills to nurture their children’s emotional growth.

This book serves as a complete manual for therapists to apply attachment theory in family settings, fostering a secure emotional foundation for healing and connection within families.