Because We’re Asked...
Advocates for Children in Therapy is frequently asked what therapy and/or therapists we recommend. Unfortunately, that is not our mission.
But because we feel some responsibility to provide a bit of guidance, we offer the below information about evidence-based treatment and parenting methods which we hope can be helpful.
Evidence-Based Practices:
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
Kazdin Method for Parenting the Defiant Child
Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up Intervention
Circle of Security
Incredible Years
Tips on Improving Your Chances of Choosing a Therapist Who Uses Evidence-Based Practices:
- The therapist would best be on the staff of a university or hospital-sponsored clinic rather than in private practice.
- The therapist should be able to describe what reflective supervision they get.
- The therapist should present an detailed informed consent document.
- The therapist should be a family therapist, or if the therapist is treating the child alone, he should guide the parent(s) to get at least supportive counseling.
- The therapist should be licensed and have no history of professional disciplinary actions.
- If the child is below school age, the therapist should have had university-based training in infant/preschool mental health issues.
References
- "Prevention and intervention for the challenging behaviors of toddlers and preschoolers,” D Powell, G Dunlap & L Fox, Infants and Young Children, 2006; 19(1):25-35.
- “Parent-child interaction therapy: new directions in research,” A Herschell, et al, Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 2002; 9:9-16.
- “Effective psychosocial treatments for children and adolescents with disruptive behavior disorders: 29 years, 82 studies, and 5272 kids,” EV Brestan & SM Eyberg, Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 1998; 27:179-188.
- “Parent-child interaction therapy for oppositional children,” M Brinkmeyer & SM Eyberg, in AE Kazdin & JR Weisz, eds., Evidence-Based Psychotherapies for Children and Adolescents, Guilford (pp. 204-223).
- “Parent-child interaction therapy: A guide for clinicians,” R Foote, E Schuhmann, M Jones & SM Eyberg, Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 1998; 3:361-373.
- “Treatment acceptability of behavioral interventions for children: an assessment by mothers of children with disruptive behavior disorders,” ML Jones, SM Eyberg, CD Adams & SR Boggs, Children & Family Behavior Therapy, 1998; 20:15-26.
- “Parent management training,” L Schoenfield & SM Eyberg, in GP Koocher, JC Norcross & SS Hill, eds., Psychologist’s Desk Reference, 2nd ed., Oxford University Press, 2005. [about Kazdin’s model]