Abstract
Parent involvement in the treatment of childhood disruptive behavior problems is a critical component of effective care. Yet
little is known about the amount of time therapists are involving parents in treatment and factors that predict therapists’
efforts to involve parents in routine care. The purpose of this study is to examine therapists’ within-session involvement
of parents in community-based outpatient mental health treatment. The data are from a larger longitudinal observational study
of psychotherapy for children ages 4–13 with disruptive behavior problems and include videotaped psychotherapy sessions coded
for the therapeutic strategies delivered as well as measures of child, parent/family, and therapist characteristics at baseline.
Parent involvement is defined as the proportion of time in the session that therapists direct treatment strategies towards
parents. Results indicated that therapists directed treatment strategies towards parents an average of 44% of the time within
a session. Multilevel modeling was used to examine client-level (child, parent, and family functioning) and provider-level
(therapist experience and background) predictors of parent involvement. Therapists involved parents more when the child had
higher levels of behavior problems, when the parent reported higher levels of internalized caregiver strain, and when the
therapist was more experienced. The results highlight potential areas to target in efforts to increase parent involvement,
including training less experienced therapists to increase their focus on directing strategies towards parents.
little is known about the amount of time therapists are involving parents in treatment and factors that predict therapists’
efforts to involve parents in routine care. The purpose of this study is to examine therapists’ within-session involvement
of parents in community-based outpatient mental health treatment. The data are from a larger longitudinal observational study
of psychotherapy for children ages 4–13 with disruptive behavior problems and include videotaped psychotherapy sessions coded
for the therapeutic strategies delivered as well as measures of child, parent/family, and therapist characteristics at baseline.
Parent involvement is defined as the proportion of time in the session that therapists direct treatment strategies towards
parents. Results indicated that therapists directed treatment strategies towards parents an average of 44% of the time within
a session. Multilevel modeling was used to examine client-level (child, parent, and family functioning) and provider-level
(therapist experience and background) predictors of parent involvement. Therapists involved parents more when the child had
higher levels of behavior problems, when the parent reported higher levels of internalized caregiver strain, and when the
therapist was more experienced. The results highlight potential areas to target in efforts to increase parent involvement,
including training less experienced therapists to increase their focus on directing strategies towards parents.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s10826-011-9517-5
- Authors
- Rachel Haine-Schlagel, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
- Lauren Brookman-Frazee, Child and Adolescent Services Research Center, Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego, 3020 Children’s Way MC 5033, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
- Danielle L. Fettes, Child and Adolescent Services Research Center, Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego, 3020 Children’s Way MC 5033, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
- Mary Baker-Ericzén, Child and Adolescent Services Research Center, Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego, 3020 Children’s Way MC 5033, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
- Ann F. Garland, Child and Adolescent Services Research Center, Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego, 3020 Children’s Way MC 5033, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
- Journal Journal of Child and Family Studies
- Online ISSN 1573-2843
- Print ISSN 1062-1024