Bringing Reflective Functioning Into Parent–Child Psychotherapy With Preschool-AGEDChildren

Objectives: Professional practice gaps have been identified by AACAP in psychotherapy and early childhood psychopathology. This Workshop aims to remedy these gaps by helping participants do the following: 1) develop an understanding of the concept of reflective functioning (RF) capacity and its relevance to parent-child psychotherapy with preschool children; 2) learn several therapeutic techniques that can be used to enhance parental RF; and 3) appreciate how improving parental RF can translate into better outcomes for both the parent and the preschool child. Methods: We will use clinical vignettes and videos from the assessment and treatment of a specific parent-child dyad to illustrate how enhancing RF in a multimodal setting can lead to a more secure attachment relationship, improved social-emotional competence in the child, and improved mood and coping strategies in the parent. The specific therapeutic techniques that will be taught include holding the parent in mind, modeling reflectiveness, facilitating the parent's wondering capacity, and eliciting and containing affect. We will gather case material and questions from participants for use in the final portion of the Workshop to foster extension of these techniques into their therapeutic work with families and children of different developmental ages. Results: The audience will be able to use their knowledge of RF to evaluate the RF capacity of a parent and child at the initial presentation and to determine whether a deficit in RF capacity plays a role in the difficulty that the dyad is experiencing. The audience will be able to use the discussed techniques in their ongoing therapeutic work with children and their families. Conclusions: Early childhood behavior disturbances are usually relationship-specific. By improving parental RF with specific therapeutic techniques, participants can improve clinical and functional outcomes in the children and families with whom they work.