Combined Parent-Child Cognitive Behavioral Therapy An Approach to Empower Families At-Risk for Child Physical Abuse

Violence is an epidemic that negatively impacts children across their lifespan. Reports indicate 2.1 million youth have experienced physical abuse during their lifetimes, disrupting the healthy development of children from the toddler years through adolescence, and most cases involve parents. Some parents lack the skills to effectively parent and use physical discipline as a strategy to control their children's problem behaviors. They may use increasing force if children continue to be noncompliant, which places many children at-risk for harm.

Combined Parent-Child Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CPC-CBT), created by Melissa K. Runyon and Esther Deblinger and outlined in this guide, provides an evidence-based intervention aimed at empowering families to develop optimistic outlooks on parenting and peaceful home environments, and to decrease stress experienced both by parents and children. CPC-CBT incorporates elements from empirically supported CBT models for families who have experienced physical abuse, sexual abuse, and domestic violence; additionally, CPC-CBT draws on concepts from developmental theory, learning theory, family systems theory, and motivational interviewing. The target population includes children (ages 3-17 years) and their parents/caregivers who have already engaged in or are at-risk for physically abusive behavior towards their children. This manual is for clinicians, clinical supervisors, administrators, and others who are considering the implementation of CPC-CBT in their agencies with families at-risk for child physical abuse.

Melissa K. Runyon, PhD, is Treatment Services Director of the CARES (Child Abuse Research Education and Service) Institute and a professor of psychiatry at the School of Osteopathic Medicine.

Esther Deblinger, PhD, is Co-founder and Co-director of the CARES (Child Abuse Research Education and Service) Institute and a professor of psychiatry at the School of Osteopathic Medicine.

Preface
Acknowledgments
Introductory Information for Therapists

Part I: CPC-CBT Parent Sessions 1-16
Chapter1. Parent Intervention: Engagement Phase of Therapy: Sessions 1-3
Chapter 2. Parent Intervention: Effective Coping Skills and Parenting Skills Phase of Therapy: Sessions 4-7
Chapter 3. Parent Intervention: Family Safety Planning and Continuation of Skill Building Phase of Therapy: Sessions 8-11
Chapter 4. Parent Intervention: Abuse Clarification Phase of Therapy: Sessions 12-16

Part II: CPC-CBT Child Sessions 1-16
Chapter 5. Child Intervention: Engagement Phase of Therapy: Sessions 1-3
Chapter 6. Child Intervention: Effective Coping Skills Phase of Therapy: Sessions 4-7
Chapter 7. Child Intervention: Family Safety Planning and Continuation of Skill Building Phase of Therapy: Sessions 8-11
Chapter 8. Child Intervention: Abuse Clarification Phase of Therapy: Sessions 12-16

Part III: Special Considerations
Chapter 9. Parenting Skills Training
Chapter 10. Teaching CPC-CBT Skills to Children of Various Developmental Levels
Chapter 11. How CPC-CBT Fosters Cultural Competence

Part IV: Appendices
Appendix A: CPC-CBT Handouts and Forms
Appendix B: Information to Obtain Recommended Assessment Measures
Appenidx C: Sample Script for Review of ABCs

References
About the Authors