It is investigated whether emotionally focused therapy (EFT) is suited for adolescent parents. To this purpose, the development of attachment relationships and the related internal working model are charted, and related to the current phase in their development the adolescents are going through. This is followed by a brief description of how EFT understands emotion from the perspective of attachment theory, and how this is used in couples therapy to enhance the emotional safety between partners. A case history clearly shows that EFT can be of additional value to both the young father and the young mother.
EFT with adolescent parents, attachment issues, teenage fathers, teenage mothers
The tPeP (Journal Person-centered experiential Psychotherapy) is the scientific journal for Dutch and Flemish psychotherapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists, that work from, or are interested in a client-centered perspective.