Working with Parents in Child Psychotherapy

Elisa Bronfman, PhD, is senior staff psychologist at Boston Children's Hospital, where she specializes in supporting children, teens, and families coping with medical illness. Since joining the hospital in 1998, she has provided training, supervision, and individual and family psychotherapy, and has run numerous patient and caregiver groups targeting a range of child issues. Dr. Bronfman is also Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. She is coauthor of the Atypical Maternal Behavior Instrument for Assessment and Classification (AMBIANCE), a research tool used to assess parent/n-/infant attachment, on which she provides training nationally and internationally, and of journal articles and books on a range of topics.Johanna D. Sagarin, PhD, is Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Assumption University and a psychologist in private practice. Previously, Dr. Sagarin was Vice President of Children’s Friend, in Worcester, Massachusetts, where she directed their community mental health clinic for youth and families for close to two decades. In this setting, she helped develop specialized programs in grief and in working with LGBTQIA+ youth and their families. She has supervised and consulted with many clinicians, has been active in university-level teaching for many years, and has given numerous trainings and workshops for professionals and the public.

• Introduction: An Integrative Approach to Parent GuidanceI. Foundations of Parent Guidance1. Contributors to Parenting Patterns2. Strategies for Partnering: Nurturing the Critical Relationships3. An Assessment to Guide TreatmentII. What You Need to Know to Choose Effective Parent Guidance and Develop Parenting Skills4. Developing the Path for Intervention5. Strengthening Optimal Parenting6. Building Proactive Competence with ParentsIII. Choosing and Using Treatment Strategies: Intervening with Common Problems7. An Introduction to Assessing and Addressing Common Problems (the Usual Suspects)8. Daily Struggles: Homework, Bedtime, Eating, and Hygiene9. Other Common Problems That Lead to Frequent Arguments: Digital Media, Going to School, Extracurricular Activities, and Sibling ConflictIV. Making the Most of Your Behavioral Interventions10. Commands, Praise, and Feedback11. Monitoring Behavior as an Intervention12. Working with Motivational SystemsV. Specific Problems in the Caregiver13. Helping the Caregiver Who Has Anxiety or Mood Regulation Issues14. Helping the Caregiver When There Is a Relationship Problem with the Child15. Helping the Caregiver Who Makes the Problem WorseVI. When Something Goes Wrong: Potential Pitfalls in Parent Guidance16. Pitfalls with the Parent or with the Therapist17. Pitfalls in the Therapeutic Process18. Legal and Ethical Concerns: Avoiding Dangers and Reducing RiskVII. PACT in Action19. Assessing Progress and Ending Treatment20. Using PACT to Steer Your Integrative Parent Guidance: A Case ExampleAppendix A. Resources for CliniciansAppendix B. Other Services a Family May Benefit FromReferencesIndex

"This book will become an instant classic. Parent guidance is critical to effective change in child psychotherapy, but there have been few resources for clinicians on how to approach the multiple challenges embedded in such work. This book is filled with clinical wisdom and imbued with deep respect for parents. While keeping the therapist–parent relationship at the forefront, the authors have also packed the volume with practical, clear guidelines for identifying and building parent–child relationship skills. Only thoughtful, compassionate, and experienced therapists like Bronfman and Sagarin could have written this book."--Karlen Lyons-Ruth, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School"This book will quickly become your most beloved, valued child therapy resource--dog-eared and coffee stained--because you will come back to it for tips and advice again and again! Working with Parents in Child Psychotherapy not only equips therapists with essential techniques, but also provides a deeper understanding of the transformative impact that effective parenting can have on children's lives. The chapters are well structured, with case examples, worksheets, and reflective prompts that enhance the content and keep readers actively engaged. This is an absolute gem of a book that I will wholeheartedly recommend to all my colleagues and trainees for years to come."--Rachael Coakley, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; Director, Clinical Innovation and Outreach in Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital"This is exactly the kind of book I longed to read as I trained to become a child clinical psychotherapist, and the kind of book I would draw on and use in my classes. Written by two wise and remarkable clinicians with years of experience in clinical work, teaching, and research, as well as parenting experience, this is a powerful, rich book that helps us to better understand how to work with parents in child psychotherapy."--Teresa Ostler, PhD, School of Social Work (Emerita), University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign"This is the most comprehensive and accessible book for professionals working with parents that I have read in years. Bronfman and Sagarin tackle a pressing clinical challenge facing psychotherapists today--empowering parents to raise emotionally strong and healthy children in a time of escalating mental health problems. In this wonderful book, nothing is overlooked and everything is anticipated. The authors show how to help parents not only to understand the whole child and become agents of change to improve behavior, but also to take better care of themselves. I found myself immediately beginning to integrate the ideas in this book into my work with clients."--Anthony Rao, PhD, private practice, Boston-