Research-Based, Clinically Sensitive Therapies for Disruptive Behavior Disorders in Children

Course overview

This course provides a careful overview of the empirically supported treatments for disruptive behavior disorders in children. These interventions consist mostly of work with parents that integrates behavioral techniques into a family systems framework. The relevant outcome research is summarized in a user-friendly fashion, then the course explains how this research can be integrated with clinical observations to individualize treatment planning for each client. There is step-by-step instruction in an exercise to increase warmth in the parent-child relationship, constructing systems of positive reinforcement, negative consequences including time out, the Collaborative Problem Solving Approach, and Problem-Solving Skills Training, with the twin goals of increasing child compliance and improving the quality of the parent-child relationship. There are case illustrations and numerous examples of good words to say in various clinical situations.