Integrated Family Intervention for Child Conduct Problems: A behaviour-attachment-systems intervention for parents

When dealing with misbehavior in their children, parents can often become trapped in a coercive system. The daily toll of responding to unacceptable behavior can leave them with little positive emotion left to give. Even parents who have been trained in positive parenting fall short of showing enough attachment-rich behaviour.

Which is why since its first release in 2006 this unique treatment program has been in continual demand for its emphasis on interactions applied to non-problematic child behaviour that are rich in caring and shared time. The use of tokens and other artificial rewards are replaced by a focus on love, intimacy and acceptance. Practitioners from around the globe rely on its practical family-based approach. Today, more than ever, its emphasis on behavioural family intervention fine-tuned through attention to attachment theory, family structure, parental cognitions, and the processes of change, allows therapists to achieve real results. Parents are empowered to bring emotional positivity back to everyday family interactions.

Integrated Family Intervention is a practitioner-focused practical and efficacious family-based treatment for conduct problems, incorporating empirical knowledge of child and family functioning, and extensive clinical experience. The manual provides practitioners with a comprehensive theoretical background, research review, practical advice, and a complete 9-session treatment guide including client handouts. The techniques covered are relevant to all clients struggling to manage their child's behaviour.

The manual is primarily targeted at children aged 2 to 8 years with conduct problems such as aggression, non-compliance, rule breaking, tantrums, and fighting with siblings. It can be used in a range of contexts from face-to-face individual tertiary treatment to an early intervention for families at risk, and as a universal preventive strategy for all parents in a group format.

David Hawes is a clinical psychologist and early career researcher. He is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Australia, where he also lectures in developmental psychology. He has published research into early intervention for conduct problems in children at risk for chronic and severe antisocial behaviour, and the clinical assessment of childhood psychopathology and parenting practices. This research has been presented at international conferences in the United States, Europe, and Australia.His clinical experience in child and family intervention encompasses community settings, controlled trials, and private practice.