Parenting With Love and Limits®
Parenting with Love and Limits® (PLL) is a family-focused intervention for teenagers (ages 10-18) with severe emotional and behavioral problems (e.g., conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder). The program is designed to help families re-establish adult authority through setting consistent limits and reclaiming loving relationships. PLL consists of both multifamily group therapy sessions and individual family therapy coaching sessions.
Multifamily group sessions are led by two facilitators, including one PLL Coach and one co-facilitator. Group session topics include reasons for teenager misbehavior, button-pushing, behavior contracts, positive feedback, and approaches for restoring nurturing relationships. Each group session is conducted in two parts. During the first half of each session, all parents and teenagers meet in one group to learn skills related to addressing behavioral problems. The second half of each session is split into one group of parents and one group of teenagers. During these breakout groups, the group facilitator validates concerns and leads solution-focused discussions.
Families also attend individual family therapy coaching sessions with PLL Coaches. These sessions are intended to complement the group sessions and follow four phases of treatment. The first phase sets the terms of the therapy. The second and third phases focus on developing a behavioral contract and role-playing skills learned in group sessions. The fourth and final phase focuses on evaluating and maintaining progress and preventing relapse. After initial work to stabilize the family system, PLL Coaches also address trauma in the family system, as needed.
Parenting with Love and Limits is rated as a supported practice because at least one study carried out in a usual care or practice setting achieved a rating of moderate or high on design and execution and demonstrated a sustained favorable effect of at least 6 months beyond the end of treatment on at least one target outcome.
Date Research Evidence Last Reviewed: Oct 2021
Sources
The program or service description, target population, and program or service delivery and implementation information was informed by the following sources: the program or service manual, the program or service developer’s website, the California Evidence Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare, the National Institute of Justice’s CrimeSolutions clearinghouse, and the studies reviewed.
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
PLL targets families with teenagers (ages 10 to 18) who have severe emotional and behavioral problems (e.g., conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder). Teenagers frequently have co-occurring issues (e.g., depression, substance use, chronic truancy, destruction of property, domestic violence, suicidal ideation) and/or involvement with the juvenile justice, mental and behavioral health, and child welfare systems.
Dosage
PLL is typically delivered over the course of 4 to 6 months. Families participate in six 2-hour weekly multifamily group sessions led by one PLL Coach and one co-facilitator. Up to six families meet all together for the first hour of each session. Parents and teenagers split into breakout groups for the second hour of each session. In addition to group sessions, families participate in 4 to 20 individual family therapy sessions led by a PLL Coach. The number of individual sessions is based on problem severity and need. Families typically participate in about four to eight individual sessions lasting 1 to 2 hours each.
Location/Delivery Setting
Recommended Locations/Delivery Settings
PLL is typically delivered in residential care settings, outpatient clinics, community-based organizations, and participants’ homes.
Location/Delivery Settings Observed in the Research
- Correctional Facility
- Community-based aftercare
Education, Certifications and Training
Multifamily group sessions are led by two facilitators consisting of one PLL Coach and one co-facilitator. The individual family sessions are led by a PLL Coach. PLL Coaches must have at least a master’s degree in a counseling related field. Co-facilitators must have at least a bachelor’s degree.
PLL Coaches must complete 5 days of training prior to implementing PLL. After training, the developer provides ongoing clinical supervision to facilitate implementation fidelity. This support includes 2-hour semi-monthly case consultation, video-taped session analysis, and a real-time data dashboard.
Program or Service Documentation
Book/Manual/Available documentation used for review
The PLL Group Manual is implemented in conjunction with the PLL Coaching Manuals.
Sells, S. P., & Souder, E. (2016). Group manual: Multi-family group psychotherapy (3rd ed.). Parenting with Love and Limits.
Sells, S. P., & Souder, E. (2020). PLL family therapy coaching manual #1: PLL Family Systems Stabilization (PLL-FSS). (3.1 ed.) Parenting with Love and Limits.
Sells, S. P., & Souder, E. (2020). PLL family therapy coaching manual #2: PLL Family Systems Trauma (PLL-FST). (3.1 ed.). Parenting with Love and Limits.
Available languages
The materials for PLL are available in English, Spanish, and Dutch.
Other supporting materials
For More Information
Website: https://gopll.com/
Phone: (800) 735-9525
Email: info@gopll.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 Parenting With Love and Limits® |
|---|---|
| Identified in Search | 9 |
| Eligible for Review | 4 |
| Rated High | 0 |
| Rated Moderate | 1 |
| Rated Low | 3 |
| Reviewed Only for Risk of Harm | 0 |
| Outcome | Effect Size
 and Implied Percentile Effect
|
N of Studies (Findings) | N of Participants | Summary of Findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child well-being: Delinquent behavior |
0.38
14 |
1 (5) | 306 |
Favorable:
4 No Effect: 1 Unfavorable: 0 |
Note: For the effect sizes and implied percentile effects reported in the table, a positive number favors the intervention group and a negative number favors the comparison group.
| Outcome | Effect Size
and Implied Percentile Effect
|
N of Studies (Findings) | N of Participants | Summary of Findings |
Months after treatment when outcome measured
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child well-being: Delinquent behavior |
0.38
14 |
1 (5) | 306 |
Favorable:
4 No Effect: 1 Unfavorable: 0 |
- |
| Study 11831 - Parenting with Love and Limits (PLL) Reentry vs Standard Aftercare Probation Services Control (Early, 2013) | |||||
| Rearrest Rate |
0.31
*
12 |
- | 306 | - | 12 |
| Felony Arrest Rate |
0.25
10 |
- | 306 | - | 12 |
| Readjudication Rate |
0.48
*
18 |
- | 306 | - | 12 |
| Felony Adjudication Rate |
0.47
*
18 |
- | 306 | - | 12 |
| Recommitment Rate |
0.37
*
14 |
- | 306 | - | 12 |
*p <.05
Note: For the effect sizes and implied percentile effects reported in the table, a positive number favors the intervention group and a negative number favors the comparison group. Effect sizes and implied percentile effects were calculated by the Prevention Services Clearinghouse as described in the Handbook of Standards and Procedures, Section 5.10.4 and may not align with effect sizes reported in individual publications.
Only publications with eligible contrasts that met design and execution standards are included in the individual study findings table.
Full citations for the studies shown in the table are available in the "Studies Reviewed" section.
The participant characteristics display is an initial version. We encourage those interested in providing feedback to send suggestions to preventionservices@abtglobal.com.
The table below displays locations, the year, and participant demographics for studies that received moderate or high ratings on design and execution and that reported the information. Participant characteristics for studies with more than one intervention versus comparison group pair that received moderate or high ratings are shown separately in the table. Please note, the information presented here uses terminology directly from the study documents, when available. Studies that received moderate or high ratings on design and execution that did not include relevant participant demographic information would not be represented in this table.
For more information on how Clearinghouse reviewers record the information in the table, please see our Resource Guide on Study Participant Characteristics and Settings.
| Characteristics of the Participants in the Studies with Moderate or High Ratings | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Study Location
|
Study Year
|
Age or Grade-level
|
Race, Ethnicity, Nationality
|
Gender
|
Populations of Interest*
|
Household Socioeconomic Status
|
| Study 11831 - Parenting with Love and Limits (PLL) Reentry vs Standard Aftercare Probation Services Control | ||||||
| Characteristics of the Children and Youth | ||||||
| St. Joseph County, Indiana, USA | 2007 | Mean age at release: 17 years |
48% White 7% Hispanic |
92% Male |
Most serious current offense - Felony: 61%; Most serious current offense - Misdemeanor: 35%; Most serious current offense - Non-law violation: 4%; Most serious prior offense - Felony: 28%; Most serious prior offense - Misdemeanor: 17%; Most serious prior offense - Percent non-law violation: 11%; Total prior adjudications: 1 |
-- |
“--” indicates information not reported in the study.
* The information about disabilities is based on initial coding. For more information on how the Clearinghouse recorded disability information for the initial release, please see our Resource Guide on Study Participant Characteristics and Settings. The Clearinghouse is currently seeking consultation from experts, including those with lived experience, and input from the public to enhance and improve the display.
Note: Citations for the documents associated with each 5-digit study number shown in the table can be found in the “Studies Reviewed” section below. Study settings and participant demographics are recorded for all studies that received moderate or high ratings on design and execution and that reported the information. Studies that did not report any information about setting or participant demographics are not displayed. For more information on how participant characteristics are recorded, please see our Resource Guide on Study Participant Characteristics and Settings.
Studies Rated Moderate
Study 11831Early, K. W., Chapman, S., & Hand, G. (2013). Family-focused juvenile reentry services: A quasi-experimental design evaluation of recidivism outcomes. Journal of Juvenile Justice, 2(2), 1-22.
This study was conducted in a usual care or practice setting (Handbook Section 6.2.2)Studies Rated Low
Study 11826Ryon, S. B., Early, K. W., & Kosloski, A. E. (2017). Community-based and family-focused alternatives to incarceration: A quasi-experimental evaluation of interventions for delinquent youth. Journal of Criminal Justice, 51, 59-66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2017.06.002
This study received a low rating because baseline equivalence of the intervention and comparison groups was necessary and not demonstrated.Study 11825
Karam, E. A., Sterrett, E. M., & Kiaer, L. (2017). The integration of family and group therapy as an alternative to juvenile incarceration: A quasi-experimental evaluation using parenting with love and limits. Family Process, 56(2), 331-347. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12187
This study received a low rating because none of the target outcomes met measurement standards.Study 11827
Sterrett-Hong, E. M., Karam, E., & Kiaer, L. (2017). Statewide implementation of parenting with love and limits among youth with co-existing internalizing and externalizing functional impairments reduces return to service rates and treatment costs. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 44(5), 792-809. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-016-0788-4
This study received a low rating because baseline equivalence of the intervention and comparison groups was necessary and not demonstrated.Studies Not Eligible for Review
Study 11828
Smith, T. E., Sells, S. P., Rodman, J., & Reynolds, L. R. (2006). Reducing adolescent substance abuse and delinquency: Pilot research of a family-oriented psychoeducation curriculum. Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse, 15(4), 105-115. https://doi.org/10.1300/J029v15n04_06
This study is ineligible for review because it does not use an eligible study design (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.4).
Study 11829
Baruch, G., Vrouva, I., & Wells, C. (2011). Outcome findings from a parent training programme for young people with conduct problems. Child & Adolescent Mental Health, 16(1), 47-54. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-3588.2010.00574.x
This study is ineligible for review because it does not use an eligible study design (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.4).
Study 11830
Sells, S. P., Early, K. W., & Smith, T. E. (2011). Reducing adolescent oppositional and conduct disorders: An experimental design using the Parenting with Love and Limits model. Professional Issues in Criminal Justice, 6(3&4), 9-30.
This study is ineligible for review because it is not a study of the program or service under review (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.6).
Study 11832
Winokur, K. (2010). Parenting with Love and Limits (PLL) research evaluation: Idaho DHW 2009−10 outcomes. Justice Research Center.
This study is ineligible for review because it does not use an eligible publication source (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.2).
Study 11833
Winkour, K. (2010). Parenting with Love and Limits (PLL) Champaign County, IL mental health board research evaluation: 2009–10 outcomes. Justice Research Center.
This study is ineligible for review because it does not use an eligible study design (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.4).