Evidence Based*
Child Behavior Management Program for Parents

Program Goals
(1) To assist parents in developing greater competence in dealing with child behavior problems, especially noncompliance and disruptiveness.
(2) To improve child compliance to appropriate commands and rules given by parents using proven techniques in a comprehensive manner.
(3) To provide parents with knowledge of the causes of child misbehavior and the principles that underlie the learning of appropriate behavior so they can solve child behavior problems on their own.

Children Appropriate for the Program
This program is appropriate for parents of children (ages 4-11) who display noncompliant behavior alone or in conjunction with other childhood disorders. These disorders are often referred to as having "externalizing" or "acting out" disorders that may go under the more specific diagnoses of oppositional defiant disorder, ADHD, conduct disorder, childhood onset pervasive developmental disorder, Asperger’s Disorder, provided that noncompliant behavior is a primary problem. Children displaying "acting out" or defiant behavior as an adjustment reaction to parental separation or divorce often respond well to this program.

Basic Premise
The basic premise of the program is that children are not "bad" children. They have learned to behave badly and by applying advanced techniques based on learning theory, parents can teach their children to behave more appropriately.

Program Duration
The program is presented in 11 consecutive 90 minute group sessions. An additional "booster" session is provided one month after the last session. Some parents also request individual sessions following the group to fine tune what they have learned in the group. However, most parents find that the 12 group sessions provide sufficient training for applying the skills effectively.

Program Therapist
Dr. Michael Goldberg is a clinical psychologist who has provided this program to over 500 parents since 1991. Dr. Goldberg is the Director of Child and Family Psychological Services, Inc. He was also a Scientific Associate in Psychiatry at Boston Children’s Hospital and an Instructor at Harvard Medical School from 1994-2007. He has taught Child Development at Boston University and other courses at Saint Louis University. Dr. Goldberg is a Past-President of the Massachusetts Psychological Association. He was recognized in 2002 by the American Psychological Association's Society of Clinical Psychology with their Early Career Award for outstanding contributions to the field of clinical psychology. He was also a 2009 recipient of the Presidential Citation from the Massachusetts Psychological Association.

* Evidence-base: There are many research studies conducted over several decades published in well respected scientific journals that support the conclusion that Behavioral Parent Training intervention such as this program are effective for most families with children with significant oppositional defiant behavior including:

Hoofdakkker et.a. (2007). Effectiveness of Behavioral Parent training for Children with ADHD in Routine Clinical Practice: A Randomized Controlled Study published in The Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Found that Behavioral Parent training was effective in decreasing behavioral and internalizing (e.g. depression & anxiety) problems.

Scahill, Lawrence ; et. al 2006 Randomized Trial of Parent Management Training in Children With Tic Disorders and Disruptive Behavior. published in the Journal of Child Neurology. Vol 21(8)  found that parent management training is helpful for at least short-term improvement in disruptive behavior problems in children with tic disorders.

The next program begins September 2010 in Norwood.

The program is limited to 10 parents and is always filled in advance.

An initial consultation/assessment is required before a family can be enrolled in the program. In that consultation you will have the opportunity to ask the questions you have to determine whether you believe this intervention is appropriate.

Click here to request services.