Emotion Focused Family Therapy for Children's Mental Health Difficulties

Overseen By Kristel Thomassin, Ph.D

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Guelph

Disqualifiers: Severe mental health disorders, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 3 Jurisdictions This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 4

Duration: 6 weeks

200 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) can help parents support children facing mental health challenges. The goal is to teach parents skills to assist their kids in managing emotions, thereby improving overall psychological well-being and family life. Participants will either start the EFFT program immediately or join a waitlist to begin later. Families may qualify if they have children aged 7 to 15 who struggle with anxiety, depression, or behavioral issues, and if the parent lives with and is willing to participate with their child. As an unphased trial, this study offers families a unique opportunity to engage in innovative research that could enhance emotional connections and improve family dynamics.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, if you or your child are actively receiving intensive psychological intervention, you may not be eligible to participate.

What prior data suggests that Emotion Focused Family Therapy is safe for children's mental health difficulties?

Research has shown that Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) is generally manageable for families. After a six-week EFFT program, parents often feel more confident in assisting their children and experience fewer "parent blocks," meaning they feel less stuck or overwhelmed when providing support.

Studies have not reported any harmful effects or negative reactions. As a type of talk therapy, EFFT is usually considered safe. Participants learn new skills to help their children grow emotionally, and this process does not involve physical risks.

Overall, current evidence suggests that EFFT is a safe choice for families wanting to support their children's mental health. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) for children's mental health difficulties because it offers a unique approach by involving families directly in the therapy process. Unlike traditional treatments such as cognitive-behavioral therapy or medication, which focus on the individual child, EFFT empowers parents and caregivers to support their child’s emotional needs. This method not only strengthens family relationships but also provides a supportive environment that can lead to more sustainable mental health improvements. By focusing on emotions and family dynamics, EFFT aims to create lasting changes that go beyond symptom management, potentially offering a more holistic approach to mental health care for children.

What evidence suggests that Emotion Focused Family Therapy is effective for children's mental health difficulties?

Research shows that Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), which participants in this trial may receive, can help parents improve their children's mental health. Studies have found that a six-week EFFT program can boost parents' confidence in supporting their child, often reducing mental health issues in children. Notably, many benefits of EFFT, such as these symptom reductions, can last up to four months after therapy ends. This suggests that EFFT could be a promising way to help families manage children's mental health challenges. Participants in the waitlist arm will not receive treatment until after the 4-month follow-up assessment. ^{1 2 3 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Kristel Thomassin, Ph.D

Principal Investigator

University of Guelph

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for parents of children aged 7 to 15 who are dealing with anxiety, depression, or behavioral issues. The child must live at home with the parent willing to participate in the therapy. It's not suitable for families where a parent or child has severe mental health disorders, language disabilities, or is already receiving intensive psychological intervention.

Inclusion Criteria

Parent is living at home with the child

I am a parent of a child aged 7-15 with anxiety, depression, or behavioral issues.

I am willing to participate in the study with my child.

Exclusion Criteria

Parent or child not proficient enough in speaking/understanding English to complete measures or EFFT intervention components

Parent or child with a severe mental health disorder (e.g., active suicidality and psychosis) is not considered suitable for the trial intervention due to the clinical need for immediate intervention

Parent or child has any disabilities in language, speech or hearing that would interfere with their completion of the EFFT and measures

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive a 6-week group Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) program

6 weeks

Weekly group sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for maintenance of treatment gains

4 months

In-lab assessment at 4 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Emotion Focused Family Therapy

Trial Overview The trial tests Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), which teaches parents skills to help their child develop emotional abilities and improve behavior. Parents will attend a group EFFT program for six weeks and results will be tracked up to four months after.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: EFFT intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Treatment (6-week group Emotion Focused Family Therapy) will be administered to participants in this arm.

Group II: Waitlist (delayed intervention) Active Control 1 Intervention

No treatment will be administered to participants in this arm until after the 4-month follow-up in-lab assessment is completed.

Emotion Focused Family Therapy is already approved in Canada, United States, European Union for the following indications:

Approved in Canada as Emotion-Focused Family Therapy for:

• Supporting children with mental health difficulties
• Improving family functioning

Approved in United States as Emotion-Focused Family Therapy for:

• Supporting children with mental health difficulties
• Improving family functioning

Approved in European Union as Emotion-Focused Family Therapy for:

• Supporting children with mental health difficulties
• Improving family functioning

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Guelph

Lead Sponsor

Trials

87

Recruited

15,100+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Emotion-Focused Skills Training (EFST) significantly improved parental mental health, emotion regulation, and self-efficacy in a study of 313 parents over a 12-month period, with large effect sizes indicating strong benefits from the intervention.

The study found a reciprocal relationship between children's mental health symptoms and parental self-efficacy, suggesting that improvements in parents' skills and well-being can positively influence their children's mental health outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effects of emotion-focused skills training on parental mental health, emotion regulation and self-efficacy: Mediating processes between parents and children. Ansar, N., Nissen Lie, HA., Stiegler, JR.[2023]

Parents who participated in a short-term Emotion Focused Skills Training (EFST) program reported significant changes in their parenting experiences, including new ways of interacting with their children and a deeper understanding of their own emotional challenges.

The study highlighted that parents effectively applied new emotional skills in real-life situations, leading to positive shifts in family dynamics and suggesting that therapists should consider parental emotional distress when implementing such programs.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Parenthood-Lost and Found: Exploring Parents' Experiences of Receiving a Program in Emotion Focused Skills Training. Ansar, N., Hjeltnes, A., Stige, SH., et al.[2022]

Emotionally focused family therapy (EFFT) shows potential as an effective treatment for young children (ages 4-6) dealing with attachment issues, but requires adaptations for their developmental stage.

The article provides practical play therapy activities that can be integrated into the EFFT model, making it more suitable for engaging young children and enhancing family emotional connections.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Harnessing the Power of Play in Emotionally Focused Family Therapy With Preschool Children. Willis, AB., Haslam, DR., Bermudez, JM.[2017]

Emotion-Focused Skills Training (EFST) is effective in reducing both externalizing and internalizing symptoms in children and adolescents, as reported by parents and teachers, with significant reductions observed immediately after treatment and maintained over 12 months.

The study, which involved 236 participants aged 6-13, found no significant differences in efficacy between the experiential and psychoeducational conditions, although the experiential condition showed slightly better outcomes according to Bayesian analysis.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy of Emotion-Focused Parenting Programs for Children's Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms: A Randomized Clinical Study. Ansar, N., Nissen Lie, HA., Zahl-Olsen, R., et al.[2022]

A randomized control trial involving 32 couples with chronically ill children showed that emotionally focused therapy (EFT) significantly reduced marital distress compared to a waitlist control group.

Improvements in marital functioning were observed not only immediately after treatment but also at a 5-month follow-up, indicating the lasting efficacy of EFT for couples in this challenging situation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Emotionally focused marital intervention for couples with chronically ill children. Walker, JG., Johnson, S., Manion, I., et al.[2019]

Recent studies highlight the effectiveness of emotion-focused parenting interventions, such as emotion coaching and mindfulness programs, in helping parents and children manage emotional experiences, which can prevent mental health difficulties.

The review of 50 studies over the past 18 months emphasizes that addressing emotional processes is crucial for improving parent-child relationships and emotional regulation, suggesting a shift from solely behavioral strategies to include emotional awareness and communication.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Emotion-focused parenting interventions for prevention and treatment of child and adolescent mental health problems: a review of recent literature. Havighurst, SS., Radovini, A., Hao, B., et al.[2021]

Emotion-focused family therapy (EFFT) effectively helps parents address their emotional fears and improve their confidence in supporting children with mental health issues, as shown in a study involving four therapists and 16 parents.

The two-chair intervention in EFFT facilitates awareness and interrupts negative parenting patterns, leading to significant emotional resolution for most parents after the therapy sessions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Processes and outcomes of an emotion-focused family therapy two-chair intervention for transforming problematic parenting patterns. Sabey, AK., Stillar, A., Lafrance, A.[2022]

The 2-day intensive Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) significantly improved parental self-efficacy and reduced barriers to involvement in their child's recovery, based on data from 124 parents collected before, immediately after, and 4 months post-intervention.

Children whose parents participated in EFFT showed significant improvements in their mental health symptoms, indicating that this therapy could be effective for various clinical issues in youth.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Brief Emotion Focused Family Therapy: An Intervention for Parents of Children and Adolescents with Mental Health Issues. Foroughe, M., Stillar, A., Goldstein, L., et al.[2020]

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05603000

Emotion Focused Family Therapy for Parents of Children ... This randomized controlled trial (RCT; EFFT vs waitlist control) will (1) test the efficacy of a 6-week group EFFT program on parent and child outcomes and (2) ...

2. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39953468/?utm_source=SimplePie&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pubmed-2&utm_content=14uXQruajoLb7UgEZ2j94wUhWTVMUAL5vR22kSrWxNKzfPyQmV&fc=20220119102450&ff=20250217000018&v=2.18.0.post9+e462414

A six-week group program of emotion focused family ... Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) is an intervention for parents of children with mental health difficulties that teaches parents advanced ...

3. bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-024-06382-y

A six-week group program of emotion focused family therapy ... Several of these outcomes, including increased parental self-efficacy and reduced child mental health symptoms, appear to be sustained at 4 ...

4. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10289383/

Effectiveness and feasibility of structured emotionally focused ... This study protocol aims to evaluate the feasibility and potential effectiveness of structured emotionally focused family therapy (EFFT).

5. psycnet.apa.org psycnet.apa.org/record/2024-84932-001

Outpatient treatment of children and adolescents using ... Emotion-focused family therapy (EFFT) is a transdiagnostic treatment model designed to help caregivers actively support their child's treatment.

6. centerwatch.com centerwatch.com/clinical-trials/listings/NCT05603000/emotion-focused-family-therapy-for-parents-of-children-with-mental-health-difficulties

Emotion Focused Family Therapy for Parents of Children ... This randomized controlled trial (RCT; EFFT vs waitlist control) will (1) test the efficacy of a 6-week group EFFT program on parent and child ...

7. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/327014818_Brief_Emotion_Focused_Family_Therapy_An_Intervention_for_Parents_of_Children_AND_ADOLESCENTS_with_Mental_Health_Issues_Across_the_Lifespan

Brief Emotion Focused Family Therapy: An Intervention for ... Results include significantly reduced parent blocks and increased parental self‐efficacy in relation to involvement in their child's recovery, ...