Parent Management Training

For the most part, it’s good news when we, as parents, learn that although we may be struggling with our child’s behavior at home, when that same child is out in the world – at school, at other children’s homes, at extra-curricular activities – they are well-behaved, cooperative, and easy to be with.  It’s a signal that your child can understand and follow the different rules of the road that apply in different situations.  That’s a big part of children’s development, requiring a blend of important cognitive, social, and emotional skills.

So, yes:  that’s all good news.  But it doesn’t make the experience of being at home with a difficult child any easier.  If time with your child feels like it is increasingly dominated by conflict, tantrums, and tears, help is out there.

Parent Management Training (PMT) is a brief, parent-focused intervention that helps parents establish more effective patterns of interacting with their child, so that family time feels more nourishing for both children and their parents.  The objective of PMT is to equip parents with a concrete set of techniques they can use at home – techniques that have proven to be effective in managing challenging child behaviors, particularly for children between the ages of 3 to 13 years.  PMT typically lasts about 10 weeks.  For the most part, the work takes place between the therapist and parents, although children may be asked to participate in some sessions.

What kinds of challenging behaviors has PMT helped?

• Ignoring instructions, no matter how many times they’re repeated
• Arguing or talking back regularly
• Acting impulsively, seeming oblivious to warnings around rule-breaking
• Tantrums beyond what would be considered normal for the child’s age

PMT focuses on teaching parents how to use positive reinforcement (praise) more effectively.  It teaches parents how to think about consequences (what’s the right consequence for the misbehavior) and how to follow through on consequences consistently.  Sessions involve a mix of discussion about what’s happening at home, reviewing specific tools parents can use at home to manage challenging behaviors, and role-playing to help prepare parents to implement those new tools outside the therapist’s office.  Ultimately, the end goal is for children to learn how to regulate their own behavior, so that parent-child relationships improve and family time becomes more enjoyable for everyone.

Before beginning PMT, it’s important for the therapist to have a detailed conversation with parents about what’s going on at home and what behaviors they’re observing in their child that concern them.  In some situations, children may require their own treatment in addition to parent-focused PMT.

If you’re struggling with your child, reach out.  An initial consultation call is free, and offers us a chance to determine together if PMT might be a good idea for you and your family.