Emotional arousal and reflective functioning among parents participating in attachment-based family therapy for LGBTQ+ young adults and their nonaccepting parents.

Moderate EA may facilitate optimal parental reflective functioning. With nonaccepting parents, who typically present for treatment with high levels of maladaptive fear and shame, therapists would do well to assess their level of arousal and, when indicated, employ downregulating interventions before inviting them to reflect on their young adult's experience and needs.