Relationship focused parent training within a dialectical framework: a case study

There are significant limitations to traditional behavioural parent training programmes and research indicates that interventions which incorporate relationship factors show superior results. Bidirectional models of the parent-child relationship provide an initial step for informing the field of parent training but more comprehensive models are required and using a dialectical framework is proposed. The current case study describes a programme that provided a five-week parent training course, with the core concept being finding and maintaining balance in the parent-child relationship. Results indicated that while two mothers with their three- and four- year-old child showed different responses to the therapy, they both reported an improvement in relationship factors. It is proposed that this is one of the necessary precursors to behavioural change. Limitations and suggestions for further research are discussed.