Combined Parent-Child Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment (CBT), which was developed by Treatment Services Director Melissa K. Runyon, PhD, in collaboration with Esther Deblinger, PhD, at the Institute, is an evidence-based treatment model that aims to empower parents to effectively parent their children in a non-coercive manner, improve parent-child relationships, assist children in healing from their abusive experiences, and enhance the safety of family members. This model helps to reduce the risk of the recurrence of child physical abuse in children and families at-risk for child physical abuse. The model incorporates elements from TF-CBT model for sexually abused children, which was co-developed by the Institute’s Clinical Director Esther Deblinger, PhD, and other CBT models targeting families in which physical abuse and domestic violence occurs.

The program offers both group and individual therapy to children, ages three to 18, and their caregivers. The group therapy program is time-limited and consists of 16-two hour sessions which involve meeting with both parents and children separately and together. The individual therapy program consists of 90 minute sessions which involve meeting separately with both the parent and child, as well as family meetings. The length of therapy may exceed 16 sessions if necessary.

The treatment consists of three components:
(1) Child Intervention
(2) Parent Intervention
(3) Parent-Child Intervention

Parent and child interventions are conducted concurrently for the first hour of each session, while the end of the session involves integrated joint parent-child therapy. Over the course of group sessions, more time is devoted to the joint parent-child sessions during which families receive individual attention from a consistent coach.
Some of the topics covered in the structured therapy sessions include:
• Providing parents with information concerning emotional and behavioral effects on children of severe corporal punishment and child physical abuse
• Providing education about realistic expectations for children’s behavior based on developmental level
• Empowering parents to be effective by working collab- oratively with them to develop adaptive coping skills, non-violent conflict resolution skills and a variety of child behavior management skills
• Teaching children a variety of positive coping skills (i.e., identification and expression of feelings, cognitive coping, assertiveness and anger management)
• Enhancing safety and communication in the family by developing a safety plan and discussing and processing past abusive interactions

For more information about Combined Parent-Child Cognitive Behavioral Therapy training by the CARES Institute staff, click here.

To complete Combined Parent-Child CBT training request form, click here .