Behavioral therapy applied to families of agressive children: why, how and when

Abstract

Based upon three key questions - why, how and when to promete behavioral therapy with aggressive children's families, this study aims to demonstrate the relevance of a matched therapy aplied to parents and their child in cases of conduct disorders. It's based on the greater enrollement of children at Psychological Centers as a result of a poor relationship with peers, as well as on the review of the literature, which indicates the environmental stressors on parental caregiving and the lack of children's social cognition as cues for an intervention. The clinical strategies should be applied during early years, for more effective results in children "s social adjustment. The activities that have been developped at the Psychology Post-Graduation Program - São Paulo University are described, involving l) perception of parents and peer group; 2) terapeutic sessions with parents and children; 3) analysis of family interactions, audio-recorded by the parents themselves. Activities developped by a children playing group in Psychology Instituto during family intervention are also presented.