The Effects of Parental Adverse Childhood Experiences on Their Children: A Theoretical Framework for Applying Attachment-Based Treatment Models with Parents and Adolescents

Research increasingly recognizes the potential influence of parents’ adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on their children; however, there is a notable gap in empirical or even conceptual literature about clinical intervention with parents and teens. This theoretical paper reviews available literature on systemic effects of parental ACEs and presents an attachment-based theoretical framework that supports clinical intervention in families with adolescents. Focusing on the treatment of parents and teens where one or both parents have ACEs, we suggest sequencing two evidencebased, attachment-focused approaches: Attachment Based Family Therapy and Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (adapted for Trauma Survivors) when working with affected families.