Family Dynamics

Assessment and Coaching

Family History and Dynamics

Assessment interviews Initial observation of parent and child Ongoing observations of interaction as you work with the family

Individual Profile of Caregivers

Developmental lags Family Dynamics Coping Patterns

Coping Pattern

Tendency to withdraw Tendency to over-control Tendency both to over-stimulate and to withdraw Tendency to overprotect Tendency to avoid

Caregiver patterns

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Comforting Uses affect cueing and gestures Expands a continuous flow of interactions Finds appropriate level of stimulation Ability to engage in relationship Can read cues and signals Encourages development

Attunement

Assess whether the caregivers patterns are in attunement with that particular child.

Strengths and Weaknesses

To stay in a constructive working relationship with the famioly requires understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each one: We all have natural strengths and each of us has an Achilles heel

Parent Reporting and discussion

Assignment of regular floortime sessions by parent alone in thehome Discussion of these sessions Solving problems and celebrating successes! How to build DIR into their daily life

Direct Coaching

Getting parents on board with playing Familiarity with DIR terms: getting the gleam in the eye now weve got him engaged (cooking) Uh, oh, we just lost him now

Team Concept

It is a delicate dance to coach the parent and support them at the same time - the only way to be really successful is by having a good relationship with that parent.

Constructive coaching
Choose our words carefully Sometimes keep your mouth shut Join them in reminding them we are a team Thoughtful and exploring feedback, not criticism Being positive and full of hope

Exploring interactions, not individual psychotherapy

Not being the parents individual therapist Helping the parent become a good observer : of their child, of themselves, and of their interactions. What gets the child cooking, what gets the parent cooking

FLOORTIME! PLAY

Ask parents what THEY like to do Talk about play: Exercise our play muscles ( Charla Cunningham) Information and articles Reflection : I wonder why.

Reflective Coaching: Examples

Rules Aggression Talking about feelings (!) Being playful

Family examples

Bs family: Cultural differences Js family: Individual differences in parents -- family conflict issues

Conclusion

We want to facilitate the parent being the best player with the child

Use myself as an example of messing up to encourage them not to be afraid to take chances Use of video as a great tool

Conclusion II
The success of the intervention will rest on the quality of the relationships between professional providers and family members, even when this relationship itself is not the focus of the intervention

Barbara Kalmanson, Ph.D.