Panel Discussion 18 - Increasing Competency in Behavioral Parent Training: A Deliberate Practice Approach

Research indicates behavioral or conduct problems are the most common disorders children and adolescents face, with over half of these children undergoing mental health treatment (Ghandour et al., 2019). Behavioral parent training (BPT) is an evidence-based treatment designed to reduce child misbehavior, increase desired/adaptive behaviors, and improve parent-child interactions. There are many BPT programs that are evidence-based with considerable content overlap, including praise, positive attention and planned ignoring, positive incentives/token economies, and consequences; however, various programs have slightly different structures. In some BPT models such as Parent-Child Interaction Therapy McNeil & Hembree-Kigin, 2010) and Helping the Noncompliant Child  (McMahon & Forehand, 2005), parents practice BPT skills directly with their child while the therapist observes and provides feedback in the form of live coaching. Regardless of structure, across BPT programs, clinicians typically teach a parent the rationale behind a skill, explains how to implement the skill with their child, models the skill, and then has  the parent practice the skill, often in the form of a roleplay. Deliberate practice (DP) is defined as “individualized training activities especially designed to improve specific aspects of an individual’s performance through repetition and successive refinement” (Lehman & Ericsson, 1996, p. 278). Positive client outcomes has been shown to be related to therapists who engage in DP (Chow et al., 2015). In DP one repeatedly practices specific skills with continuous and specific feedback (Ericsson, 2008). DP can be applied in supervision through training rograms, continuing education, and self-reflection. Supervisors who engage in DO observe trainees’ therapy sessions but also provide timely, incremental, and constructive feedback throughout (Rousmaniere et al., 2017). Panelists will discuss the science and practice of DP as it relates to BPT. A demonstration of DP for BPT will be conducted and audience members can engage in clinical skill building across five key BPT skills and receive deliberate practice feedback. Discussion of how to integrate DP in clinical training practica experiences will be reviewed.