How Do You Translate Effective Parenting Skills Into Clinical Practice?
Parenting can be a difficult job, even when you think you’re prepared for it. According to Dr. Terry M. Levy and Michael Orlans, co-directors of the Evergreen Psychotherapy Center and the Attachment Treatment and Training Institute in Evergreen, Colorado, effective parenting leads to greater self-esteem, higher frustration tolerance, adaptive coping skills, resiliency, and secure attachments to others. Adult clients can also benefit from the use of parenting skills in the context of therapy. Be reliable. Just as children need to know you’ll be there to pick them up when school ends or for their high school play, clients need you to be reliable. Keeping appointments, starting and ending sessions on time, and keeping your word can all instill trust and foster a secure attachment to you. Be consistent in your responses and level of interest. Children become confused, anxious or angry when the same behavior elicits different responses from a caregiver or parents. Clients may feel the same
