1. Founder and Developer, PRAXES
PRAXES AND Reducing Parent Stress in the Family of the Special needs Child
November 9, 2016
Presented by
Dan Thorne, LMFT
Founder and Developer, PRAXES

2. Background of Developer
40 years in mental health, including over 30 years as Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
25 years as director of outpatient and inpatient mental health and substance abuse programs
Parent of three adoptive children with mental health problems
Challenged dog owner
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3. Goal and objectives
Discover ways to improve the functioning of the special needs family
Connection between Parent Stress and the special needs child
Improve approaches for parent involvement
Explore parenting program designed to reduce parent stress and improve child behavior

4. What is a Special needs child?
A child with impaired functioning in the community, home, or school due to mental health, intellectual, and/or physical challenges.

5. What is parenting stress?
Parenting Stress Index (Abadin, 1990)
Parental Distress – emotional pain parent experiences in role as parent.
Parent-Child Dysfunctional Interaction – perception that child doesn’t meet parent’s expectations
Difficult Child – ability of child to manage beahvior

6. Why is parenting stress so important?
Relationship between parenting stress and:
Child development status
Child cognitive delay
Is also biodirectional (goes back and forth)
Cousino and Hazen (2013)

7. Why is parenting stress so important?
Relationship between parenting stress and:
Martial conflict
Poor physical health
Parent depression
Neece et al (2012), Hassall et al (2005)

8. Parenting stress treatment Barriers
In denial about problem
Lack of knowledge
Not wanting to be involved
Not wanting to be blamed for child

9. Parenting Programs
In survey of over thirty programs, include IY, 3P, and Active Parenting, only two specifically used parenting stress reduction techniques (Bennett et al, 2013).
Most parenting programs focus on child
What is done with parent? Teach parenting skills

10. New Approaches Engagement skills (more listening)
Allow parents to accept their feelings
Empowerment skills
Support in community
Advocacy skills

11. Parents Reach achieve and excel through empowerment strategies (PRAXES)
12 session program for parenting stress of families with special needs children
Focus on parent self-care, awareness, and ability
Emerging practice, with research and manual
Results- reduce stress 33%, child behavior problems 40% (PSI and & ECBI outcome measures)

12. PRAXES IS: Ideal for non-therapists
Blends well with wraparound, TBS, FSP, other at-risk family approaches
One on one sessions in field, office, or community
English and Spanish

13. Why does praxes work? Parent as survivor
Individualized attention to parent’s needs and strengths
Empowerment skills- stress, assertion, supports, advocacy
Adjust parent expectations of self and child

14. Certification process for staff and agency
One Day Practitioner Training - $135
Half Day Supervisor Training - $60
Twelve Conference Calls for Supervisor
Half Day Booster Training at 6 month mark - $60

15. Sustainability Plan
Parent Manuals in English and Spanish - $ for print version, $18-23 for license version
Parenting Stress Index- $90/25 tests
Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory - $45/ 25 tests
Fidelity measures
Data collection to PRAXES

16. Option 1 Live training track
California – by agency or community trainings
Dates and locations - TBD
Will provide agencies who host training discount for hosting

17. Option 2 - Webinar track
Initial practitioner training – 6 hrs.-1/20/17- $115 with manual (20% off)
Supervisor training – 1/24/ hrs. - $48 (20% off)
Booster Training – TBD - 3 hrs. - $48 (20% off )

18. References
Robinson, C., York, K., Rothenberg, A., & Bissell, L. (2014). Parenting a Child with Asperger’s Syndrome: A Balancing Act. Journal of Child & Family Studies, 24,
Hassall, R., Rose, J., & McDonald, J. (2005). Parenting Stress in Mothers of Children with an Intellectual Disability: the Effects of Parental Cognitions in Relation to Child Characteristics and Family Support. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 49 (6),
Cousino, M., & Hazen, R., (2013). Parenting Stress Among Caregivers of Children with Chronic Illness: A Systematic Review. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 38 (8),
Bennett, C., Barlow, J., Huband, N., Smailagic, N., & Roloff, V. (2013). Group-Based Parenting Programs for Improving Parenting and Psychosocial Functioning: A Systematic Review, Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research, 4 (4),
Abidin, R. (1990). Introduction to the special issue: The stresses of parenting. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 19(4),
Neece, C., Green, S., & Baker, B. (2012). Parenting stress and child behavior problems: A transactional relationship across time. American Journal of Intellectual Developmental Disabilities, 117(1);

19. Questions? Thank you Dan thorne, LMFT Dan.Thorne@praxesmodel.com