The Core Elements of Family Therapy includes 30 Practice Guides, 12 Process Guides, and 3 treatment branches.
Family involvement is at the heart of successful therapy outcomes. Yet, many traditional family therapy approaches can be complex, costly, and difficult to implement. CEFT simplifies the process by distilling essential, evidence-based strategies into a practical and flexible framework. With CEFT, providers can focus on what truly matters—building strong family connections that support lasting change.
CEFT provides a simplified, research-backed framework that enables providers to deliver effective family interventions for adolescents with behavioral health challenges. It offers a practical, flexible, and empirically supported toolkit to address adolescent behavioral issues with varying levels of family involvement.
Covering key elements like interactional change, relational reframing, and adolescent engagement.
Adaptable to various settings without compromising effectiveness.
Rooted in evidence-based family therapy models validated in community settings.
CEFT is designed for providers, counselors, and agencies looking to incorporate family-based approaches. Whether new to family therapy or experienced, CEFT provides practical tools to enhance practice.
CEFT is built on core elements from established therapy models, with studies supporting improved outcomes in community settings.
Bobek, M., Hogue, A., Porter, N., MacLean, A., Daleiden, E., Cromley, T., Thompson, T., Wagner, J., & Higa-MacMillan, C. (2024). Core competencies in family therapy for adolescent behavior problems: Systemic stance and systemic skills. Contemporary Family Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-024-09720-0
Bobek, M., Hogue, A., Daleiden, E., MacLean, A., Porter, N., Cela, T., Marcellin, L. H., Diamond, G., & Donohue, B. (2024). Competency guidelines for family collaboration in behavioral health services for adolescents. Contemporary Family Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-024-09696-x
Hogue, A., Bobek, M., Dauber, S., Henderson, C. E., McLeod, B. D., & Southam-Gerow, M. A. (2017). Distilling the core elements of family therapy for adolescent substance use: Conceptual and empirical solutions. Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse, 26(6), 437–453. https://doi.org/10.1080/1067828X.2017.1322020
Hogue, A., Bobek, M., Dauber, S., Henderson, C. E., McLeod, B. D., & Southam-Gerow, M. A. (2019). Core elements of family therapy for adolescent behavior problems: Empirical distillation of three manualized treatments. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2018.1555762
Hogue, A., Bobek, M., Porter, N., Dauber, S., Southam-Gerow, M. A., McLeod, B. D., & Henderson, C. E. (2021). Core elements of family therapy for adolescent behavioral health problems: Validity generalization in community settings. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2021.1969939
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