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Parenting can be challenging, with various stages of the journey presenting unique difficulties. From becoming a new parent to dealing with teenagers leaving home, maintaining a positive relationship with your child(ren) can be tough. However, parenting can be especially challenging for those with children who have special needs.
Communication issues, behavior problems, and the intensity of emotions involved in the parent-child relationship can leave parents feeling overwhelmed and struggling to navigate the complexities of parenthood.
Many traditional parenting methods rely on authoritarian or punitive approaches, such as strict discipline, control, and punishment, which research has shown negative long-term effects on children's emotional and psychological well-being.
Strict or punitive environments may cause children to develop low self-esteem, anxiety, and a strained parent-child relationship.
Parents of children with special needs often face additional hurdles, including navigating medical appointments and therapies and advocating for their child's needs.
The need for real support,
including access to evidence-
based approaches to parenting,
specialized therapies, and
counseling, is all the more crucial
to help them navigate the unique
challenges they face.
Weston Family Psychology offers research-backed programs tailored to each family's needs to help you understand the demanding nature of the parent-child relationship and build a strong relationship with your child.
We understand that every child is unique, and what works for one child may not work for another. So whether you're a new parent, an expectant parent, or having children leaving home, we have a program that can help.
Our team has over 20 years of experience working with children and adolescents in different settings. We stay up-to-date with the latest findings in parenting, and we aim to empower parents with the knowledge and skills they need to raise resilient, confident, and well-adjusted children.
As a parent, you want to do everything you can to help your child overcome anxiety, OCD, or other related problems. You play a crucial role in your child's recovery, and SPACE treatment gives you the tools you need to support them on their journey to overcoming anxiety.
With SPACE treatment, created by Ellie Libowitz, we’ll focus on making changes to your own behavior—not your child's.
The SPACE treatment is focused on making changes to the parent's behavior, not the child's. Although the child or teen with anxiety or OCD is the patient, the sessions are developed with the caregivers, and for the most part, the children/adolescents don't have to attend.
The two main changes you’ll learn to make are to respond more supportively to your anxious child and to reduce the accommodations you have been making to their symptoms.
Dr. Ross Greene’s Collaborative and Proactive Solutions (CPS) model is a new-wave approach to understanding and addressing challenging behavior in children and teens. This model emphasizes collaboration between caregivers and young individuals to identify and address the underlying causes of behavioral difficulties.
At the core of the CPS model are two key components: the Assessment of Lagging Skills and Unsolved Problems (ALSUP) and Plan B.
ALSUP serves as a framework for understanding why a child or teen is exhibiting challenging behaviors. It involves identifying specific skills that the individual is lacking or has difficulty with and pinpointing the unsolved problems that contribute to their challenging behaviors.
These unsolved problems are situations or expectations that trigger challenging behavior due to the individual’s lagging skills. By comprehensively assessing these factors, caregivers can gain insight into the root causes of the behaviors and develop targeted interventions.
Plan B is the collaborative problem-solving process central to the CPS model. Unlike traditional disciplinary approaches that focus on imposing consequences for behavior, Plan B prioritizes understanding and addressing the underlying issues driving the behavior. Plan B involves three steps: empathy, define the problem, and invitation.
Demonstrating empathy and understanding towards the child or adolescent's perspective.
Caregivers strive to acknowledge and validate the individual's feelings and concerns, fostering a sense of trust and collaboration.
Caregivers and the child/teen work to identify and define the specific unsolved problem contributing to the challenging behavior.
The open dialogue and active listening allow caregivers to gain insight into the child's perspective and clarify their own concerns.
Caregivers and the young together generate, negotiate, and evaluate mutually agreeable solutions for the identified problem, considering the young's needs and capabilities. This empowers them to become active participants in finding solutions to their behavioral challenges, fostering autonomy and self-regulation.
Overall, the Collaborative and Proactive Solutions model represents a paradigm shift in the approach to understanding and managing challenging behavior in children and adolescents. By prioritizing collaboration, empathy, and problem-solving, this model empowers caregivers and young individuals to work together toward positive outcomes. Through the Assessment of Lagging Skills and Unsolved Problems (ALSUP) and the Plan B process, caregivers can gain valuable insights into the underlying factors contributing to challenging behavior and develop effective interventions that address the root causes.
Start Your Parenting Program
Develop the skills to best support your child.
At Weston Family Psychology, we believe in equipping children with the social and emotional skills they need to lead fulfilling lives. Our collaborative approach involves developing interventions, systems, and structures for behavior that work for everyone in the family and build strong relationships.
Parenting programs can benefit both you and your child(ren). They can provide you with the tools and knowledge you need to navigate the challenges of parenthood, improve communication with your children, and build stronger, healthier relationships.
For your kids, parenting programs can lead to improved emotional and behavioral outcomes, including better self-esteem, reduced anxiety and depression, and more positive social interactions. They can also help them develop important life skills like problem-solving, decision-making, and emotional regulation.
Our team at Weston Family Psychology understands the complexities of parenting. For over 20 years, we’ve been committed to helping parents raise their children with confidence through an evidence-based, personalized approach.
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