Consulting With Parents and Teachers

Parent Consultation n Engaging the parent Initial phone contact Initial phone contact – description of problem – duration and frequency – practical matters--cost, time, length of treatment – rationale and description of the counseling through play process – answers questions and sets first meeting

First Session n More detailed exploration of problem n Discuss what has been tried to solve problem n Discussion of importance of parents and family in the development of the child and the success of counseling

Matching Parent Consultation to the Family n Minor adjustments in discipline and/or communication patterns n Minor marital problems n Moderate to severe marital problems n Lack of parenting skills

Lack of parenting skills: Teach n Listening and problem definition n Goal recognition n Consequence setting n Encouragement

Personal problems of parents n When personal issues of parent(s) are moderate or severe refer n Difficult to work in counseling role with both child and parent at same time

What type of information should the counselor gather from the parent? n Presenting problem data n Data about factors effecting child’s lifestyle n After gathering initial information about presenting problem focus is on contributing factors not problem--Avoid defining child in terms of problem

Focus of information gathering is on parent perceptions: n How child gains significance in the family n How child interacts with others in the family n How child interacts with others in the world n Birth order and personality of each child n Rate each child on intelligence, helpfulness, materialism, selfishness n How child’s behaviors grow from this viewpoint

Focus of information gathering is on parent perceptions: n Family atmosphere n Parent relationships with children n Views on strategies for discipline

Additional questions for parents: n Daily routine n Child’s responsibilities n Behaviors that annoy parents n How they respond n How they feel when the behavior persist n How child reacts to reprimands

See Kottman Appendix C for list of specific questions

Check for stressful events as possible reasons for sudden misbehavior n Death n Move n Change in family n Alcoholism, mental illness of family member

Using information gathered n Teaching parents new strategies for perceiving and interacting with child n Reframe behavior to help parents see it in a more positive light

Brigman’s suggestions for consultation n Structure the meeting n Start with positives/strengths n Use a logical sequence of questions n Gather missing background information

Brigman’s suggestions for consultation n Offer suggestions n Focus on 1-2 issues n Build in encouragement n Clarify plan and follow-up

Consultation:Three Keys n Triadic n Indirect n Collaborative

Adlerian parent education resources n STEP, STEP TEEN, ACTIVE PARENTING n Wining Children Over-F. Walton, Columbia SC n Positive Discipline-J. Nielson

Adlerian teacher education resources n Cooperative Discipline n ACTIVE TEACHING n Consultation in the Schools-- White, Mullis, Earley, Brigman

Summary--Personalizing n Top 2-3 ideas from this chapter n Ways I can apply what I have learned n Questions/concerns I have