Individual Combined Parent-Child Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Individual Combined Parent-Child Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (Individual CPC-CBT) is designed for families with children ages 3–17 in which parents are at-risk of engaging in or have already engaged in abusive behavior towards their children. Individual CPC-CBT aims to help children heal from abusive experiences, empower parents, strengthen parent-child relationships, and enhance family safety. The model supports parents who engage in a continuum of coercive parenting behaviors, ranging from verbal threats to unsubstantiated or substantiated physical abuse. All caregivers in the child’s life (e.g., biological parents, foster parents, grandparents) and siblings are encouraged to participate in the program. Unlike Group CPC-CBT, Individual CPC-CBT involves meeting with a single family.
Prior to beginning Individual CPC-CBT, clinicians screen families to determine which feelings and behaviors should be addressed during treatment. Each Individual CPC-CBT session begins with content delivered separately to parents and children, followed by a joint activity for families that enables them to spend positive time together and practice new skills. The amount of time spent jointly in each session increases as the program continues.
After screening, families progress through the four phases of Individual CPC-CBT: Engagement, Skill Building, Safety, and Clarification. Throughout the parent sessions, the clinician uses motivational interviewing and teaches parenting skills, such as effective communication, positive parenting, and behavior management skills. During the Engagement Phase (Sessions 1–3), clinicians work to engage parents and children in the program by building rapport, enhancing commitment, and motivating parents to comply with treatment. Clinicians provide education to parents and children about child development and the impact of violent behavior on children. During the Skill Building Phase (Sessions 4–7), clinicians train parents and children to use effective coping skills. During the Safety Phase (Sessions 8–11), clinicians help families develop safety plans to help everyone in the home remain calm and safe during an escalating interaction between family members. During the Clarification Phase (Sessions 12–16), clinicians help children process their abuse by helping children develop a trauma narrative. Clinicians then help parents write letters to their children taking responsibility for the abuse.
Individual CPC-CBT does not currently meet criteria to receive a rating because no studies met eligibility criteria for review.
Date Research Evidence Last Reviewed: Apr 2023
Sources
The program or service description, target population, and program or service delivery and implementation information were informed by the following sources: the program or service manual, the program or service developer’s website, and the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare.
This information does not necessarily represent the views of the program or service developers. For more information on how this program or service was reviewed, visit the download the Handbook of Standards and Procedures, Version 1.0
Target Population
Individual CPC-CBT is designed for families with children ages 3–17 in which parents are at-risk of engaging in or have already engaged in abusive behavior towards their children. In Individual CPC-CBT, the term “parents” refers to any primary adult caretakers, such as biological parents, foster parents, grandparents, or other caregivers. Individual CPC-CBT can be used when the child remains in the home, when the child has been removed from the home with a plan for reunification, and when the child has been removed from the home and resides with other caregivers such as foster parents or grandparents. Individual CPC-CBT should not be used for families where there is no plan for reunification, the child functions at a developmental age younger than 3, or the parent has sexually abused the child.
Dosage
A clinician or co-clinicians typically deliver Individual CPC-CBT in 16–20 weekly sessions with parents and children. Each session consists of separately delivered content for parents and children followed by joint parent-child content. Individual CPC-CBT sessions are typically 90 minutes long but can be modified to 60 minutes as needed. If clinicians need more sessions to deliver the content to families, they can extend the number of sessions.
Location/Delivery Setting
Recommended Locations/Delivery Settings
Clinicians can deliver Individual CPC-CBT in-person in participants’ homes, outpatient clinics, or community-based agencies.
Education, Certifications and Training
CPC-CBT clinicians must have at least a master’s degree in a mental health field and familiarity with cognitive behavioral therapy, evidence-based family engagement strategies, and motivational interviewing.
There are two types of training for clinicians, both at the agency level.
Training Option 1 is a formal learning community with other agencies. This option involves three 2-day in-person learning sessions over 8–12 months with 12 consultation calls once the agency starts implementing the program for the first time. Trainers conduct calls with agency leadership and supervisors to address barriers and promote CPC-CBT sustainability within the agency.
Training Option 2 includes a 3-day in-person training on the program model. Trainers provide 12 consultation calls once the agency starts implementing the program for the first time. Trainers conduct calls with agency leadership and supervisors to address barriers and promote CPC-CBT sustainability within the agency. Additionally, clinicians can participate in a 2-day advanced training program after the model has been implemented to learn more advanced concepts.
Additional consultation and a Train-the-Trainers training are also available.
Program or Service Documentation
Book/Manual/Available documentation used for review
Runyon, M. K., & Deblinger, E. (2014). Combined Parent-Child Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CPC-CBT): An approach to empower families at-risk for child physical abuse. Oxford University Press.
Available languages
The Individual CPC-CBT manual is available in English, Czech, Finnish, Japanese, and Swedish.
Other supporting materials
For More Information
Website: melissarunyon.com
Phone: (609) 247-5273
Email: MelissaRunyonphd@gmail.com
Note: The details on Dosage; Location; Education, Certifications, and Training; Other Supporting Materials; and For More Information sections above are provided to website users for informational purposes only. This information is not exhaustive and may be subject to change.
| Results of Search and Review | Number of Studies Identified and Reviewed for Individual Combined Parent-Child Cognitive Behavioral Therapy |
|---|---|
| Identified in Search | 3 |
| Eligible for Review | 0 |
| Rated High | 0 |
| Rated Moderate | 0 |
| Rated Low | 0 |
| Reviewed Only for Risk of Harm | 0 |
Studies Not Eligible for Review
Study 14737
Kjellgren, C., Svedin, C., & 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
This study is ineligible for review because it does not use an eligible study design (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.4).
Study 14740
Santa-Sosa, E., & Runyon, M. (2015). Addressing ethnocultural factors in treatment for child physical abuse. Journal of Child & Family Studies, 24(6), 1660-1671. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-014-9969-5
This study is ineligible for review because it does not use an eligible study design (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.4).
Study 14741
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
Thulin, J., Kjellgren, C., & Nilsson, D. (2018) 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
This study is ineligible for review because it does not use an eligible study design (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.4).