Developmental Psychotherapy
Developmental Parenting Blog
I have a blog that you can
follow regarding developmentally supportive parenting:at
https://developmentalpsychotherapy.wordpress.com/
Goal of Child Therapy
This handout identifies the goal of child psychotherapy, and of parenting generally, as more than merely attaining an obedient child. The goal of child psychotherapy and parenting should be to achieve a cooperative child.
Resolving Parent-Child and Marital Conflict
This handout addresses issues of productively responding to parent-child and marital conflict. The scientific research on this concerns the developmental importance of "breach-and-repair" sequences for building authenticity and "self-structure" in the context a shared intimate relationship. The issue is not in the breach phase, the issue is in how well or poorly the breach is repaired. This handout discusses the breach-and-repair sequence that is central to parent-child and marital conflict resolution.
Parenting Talk Powerpoint - Ages 5-10
I recently gave a 30 minute talk hosted by Pretend City Children's Museum in Irvine CA on parenting for children ages 5-10 years old. I am posting my powerpoint presentation for this talk which organizes the basic information regarding developmentally supportive parenting and challenging child behaviors. I have given these types of talks ranging in length from this brief 30 minute talk, to more elaborated 2 hour seminars, to full 6 hour seminar series for parent, teacher, and professional groups and organizations. If you would like more information regarding my availability for this type of talk or seminar in the Los Angeles area, you may contact me through this website.
Brain System Description
Behavior is the symptom, the brain is the cause. This handout is a brief description of the six component brain systems involved in integrated (or non-integrated) behavior and emotional expression.
Brain Systems Diagram
This is a visual representations of the six component brain systems involved in producing children's (and adult's) emotional-behavioral expressions.
Responding to Protest Behavior
I developed this handout for a client to describe how to respond to explosive, temper-tantrum "protest behavior" with her 6 year old. The treatment goal is to bring emotional outbursts (catastrophic emotion) into and through the language and communication systems, and into relationship negotiation and social cooperation.
Emotion System Description
This handout discusses the basic features of the Emotion System, which is comprised of four basic emotional channels; anxious, sad, angry, and happy. Each emotion has a signal function, a social function, and an impact on overall brain system integration.
Use-Dependent Neural Development Handout
This handout was developed to support my classroom lectures on neurodevelopment during childhood. The handout describes some of the basic principles of brain neurodevelopment involving use-dependent development of brain systems and the resulting self-organization of brain systems through a process of phased sequencing of system component activation.
Organizing Intentions
The human brain is structured to read and interpret the intentions that are motivating the actions of other people. Several organizing intentions are particularly relevant to the quality of parent-child relationships:
1) the Intent to Understand
2) the Intent to Be-With
3) the Intent to Task
4) the Intent to Alter or Change
This handout describes the features of these differing organizing intentions.
Three Basic Social Systems Diagram
This is a diagram of the three basic social systems involved in parent-child interactions, 1) the Authority System essentially involving a set of dominance-submission networks, 2) the Socially Organized Behavior System that involves reading social cues, interpreting social cues, emitting social cues, and developing a socially organized (integrated) plan, and 3) the Psychological Connection System in which we enter a mutual shared psychological state.
Three Motivational Systems
This handout briefly presents the three of motivational systems,
1) Active
Exploratory Learning
2) Task-Oriented
& Goal-Directed Activity
3) Relationship
Motivations
Several important treatment concepts involve understanding these differing motivational networks.
Affection Bursts Handout
This handout offers a very simple recommendation for parents that can dramatically improve the parent-child relationship. The purpose of parental affection bursts are to wordlessly instill deep into the child's psyche, a very warm feeling of being loved and valued.
Communicating with Children Handout
This is a handout on communication strategies to use with young children. While it is designed for children ages 3-6 years old, the strategies can be adapted for older children as well, particularly reflective listening, open-ended questions, and encouraging.