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Combined Parent-Child Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CPC-CBT)

Topic: Child Abuse, Parenting

Target Population: Adolescents, Early Childhood, Middle Childhood, Parents

Sector: Community-Based

Target Audience

This program is for children who are 3 to 17 years old and their parents who have physically abused or are at risk of physically abusing their children.

Summary

Combined Parent-Child Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CPC-CBT), a community-based intervention, is designed to help parents replace abusive behaviors with positive parenting strategies and to help children heal from abusive experiences.

Evidence

Evaluations of the CPC-CBT program suggest that participants may experience positive changes in parenting behaviors, child mental health outcomes, and child behavioral problems. However, these evaluations included a variety of limitations; therefore, the findings should be considered preliminary. Additional research with larger sample sizes, better comparison groups, and lower attrition rates should be conducted before definitive conclusions about the effectiveness of this program can be drawn.

Components

CPC-CBT is a treatment program that includes individual or group sessions that utilize cognitive behavioral principles to assist child victims of abuse and their parents. Similar programs typically target only the perpetrators of abuse. CPC-CBT includes the following four phases:

Engagement and psychoeducation: Motivate parents, who may not be actively thinking about changing their parenting behaviors, to initiate positive changes;
Effective coping skill building: Focus on developing or improving parenting and communication skills among parents and coping skills among children;
Family safety: Teach family members to recognize when family interactions are escalating and learn how to calm down; and
Abuse clarification: Encourage children to share thoughts and feelings about abuse and help parents develop empathy for their children's experiences.

Parenting skills such as giving praise and positive reinforcement, developing communication skills, and involving children in decision-making are addressed throughout all four phases of the program.

Previous Use

CPC-CBT has been implemented throughout the United States and was introduced in Sweden in 2007 by one of the developers.

Training

This program is implemented by clinicians who have a master's degree or higher in a mental health profession. Training is required, and there are several options. Each option varies in length, intensity, and cost. Please use details in the Contact section to learn more.

Considerations

Considerations for implementing this program include recruiting qualified therapists and ensuring they receive training, acquiring participant buy-in, locating suitable space to hold sessions, offering child care for young children, and understanding that substantial costs may be associated with training and program implementation.

The Clearinghouse can help address these considerations. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

Implementation

If you are interested in implementing CPC-CBT, the Clearinghouse is interested in helping you!
Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

Time

CPC-CBT is delivered in 16- to 20-individual or group sessions. Each individual session is 90 minutes, and each group session is 2 hours.

Cost

Costs for implementing CPC-CBT vary depending on existing resources. Please use details in the Contact section to learn more.

Evaluation Plan

To move CPC-CBT to the Promising category on the Clearinghouse Continuum of Evidence, at least one evaluation with a strong design that includes a no-treatment control group should be performed demonstrating positive effects lasting at least one year from the beginning of the program or at least six months from program completion.

The Clearinghouse can help you develop an evaluation plan to ensure the program components are meeting your goals. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

Contact

Contact the Clearinghouse with any questions regarding this program.
Phone: 1-877-382-9185 Email: Clearinghouse@psu.edu

You may also contact Dr. Melissa Runyon by mail 9219 US Highway 42, #D, Prospect, KY 40059, phone 1-609-247-5273, email melissarunyonphd@gmail.com, or visit http://melissarunyon.com/contact

Source

http://melissarunyon.com/cpc-cbt and https://www.cebc4cw.org/program/combined-parent-child-cognitive-behavioral-therapy-cpc-cbt/detailed

References

Used in Placement

Kjellgren, C., Svedin, C. G., & Nilsson, D. (2013). Child physical abuse—Experiences of combined treatment for children and their parents: A pilot study. Child Care in Practice, 19(3), 275-290. https://doi.org/10.1080/13575279.2013.785934

Runyon, M. K., Deblinger, E., & Schroeder, C. M. (2009). Pilot evaluation of outcomes of combined parent-child cognitive-behavioral group therapy for families at risk for child physical abuse. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 16(1), 101-118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpra.2008.09.006

Runyon, M. K., Deblinger, E., & Steer, R. A. (2010). Group cognitive behavioral treatment for parents and children at-risk for physical abuse: An initial study. Child & Family Behavior Therapy, 32(3), 196-218. https://doi.org/10.1080/07317107.2010.500515

Thulin, J., Nilsson, D., Svedin, C. G., & Kjellgren, C. (2020). Outcomes of CPC-CBT in Sweden concerning psychosocial well-being and parenting practice: Children’s perspectives. Research on Social Work Practice, 30(1), 65-73. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049731519843352

Not Used in Placement

Other

Thulin, J., Kjellgren, C., & Nilsson, D. (2019). Children's experiences with an intervention aimed to prevent further physical abuse. Child & Family Social Work, 24(1), 17-24. https://doi.org/10.1111/cfs.12476

Last Reviewed Date: 5/6/2021

Program