Learning Objectives

Define parent-child contact problems (PCCP)
Describe strategies to intervene in an enmeshed parent-child relationship
List 3 early factors that suggest a family is appropriate for PCCP interventions
Describe the risks associated with “concept creep” and the use of imprecise terms to describe PCCP
Examine best practices for accurate assessment of families with allegations of abuse, alienation, and compromised parenting
Describe the many areas covered under the term “family violence”
Discuss the differences among various types of control exerted by PCCP parents
Identify multi-factors that predispose, precipitate, and perpetuate parent-child contact problems
Identify parent alienating behaviors (PABs) in their various forms
Identify the steps needed to set up an intervention
Determine possible intervention goals for family members who are engaged in a family intervention

Describe actions to take when a rejected parent wants the intervention to move faster, and the favored parent wants to stall
Explain what to do when a court order requires you to determine parenting time
Discuss ethical dilemmas that present when working with a PCCP family
Utilize a framework for setting up and delivering apologies in parent-child relationships
Analyze best practices to intervene in a PCCP case where there are allegations of parent-child gatekeeping, and a child is refusing contact with one parent
Discuss the factors that help determine when to persist in a parent-child reconciliation and when to let go
Describe strategies to employ when a PCCP case shifts in unexpected directions
Identify two factors that determine a successful intervention