Choosing EDP Sessions and Accessing Session Resources

Guidelines for Choosing EDP Sessions

1. Ground in Caregiver Goals

Reference caregivers' goals from Feedback Session

2. Develop Complete Picture

Make sure you and caregivers have a complete picture of the problems related to their goals and the strengths to be used, so you can help caregivers identify specific parenting practices that will help them meet their goals. Consider using the interaction tracking form: Worksheet: Details of Parent-Child Interactions

3. Choose Sessions in EDP Curriculum

Match up EDP sessions and skills covered in sessions, as described below, to caregiver goals and your complete picture of family strengths and challenges.

4. Access Resources for Sessions

See guidelines below for when to use sessions in each domain, examples of caregiver goals that match the domains, and specific skills covered in each session.

Click on the download button in the session column to access a session planner for each session. The session planners include step-by-step guidance for each session, as well as links to relevant EDP handouts and videos.

Domain: POSITIVE BEHAVIOR SUPPORT

When to use:

Often a great first strategy for caregivers to try, especially when the child is already on the right track with their behavior, and we want to increase the positive behavior. It's also a good option when caregivers have a negative view of the child or have difficulty expressing positive feelings about the child.

Caregiver Goals:

These sessions could be useful when caregiver goals are something like - youth will do more of X behavior; youth will follow directions; youth will have fewer tantrums or outbursts; family will argue less; family will have better communication; family will have closer relationships

SESSION
SKILLS COVERED IN SESSION
1. Effective directions and praise
EDP Session Planner #1
  • Describing the positive opposite of problem behaviors
  • Breaking down desired positive behavior into small, observable steps that are under child's control
  • Giving effective directions by being specific, pleasant, and neutral
  • Giving effective praise by being immediate, specific, and rewarding for child
2. Developing and using behavior change plans
EDP Session Planner #2
  • Praise and acknowledgment of child positive behavior
  • Tracking and praising the positive opposite
  • Developing a plan for behavior change including how to monitor and identify incentives for positive behavior
  • Setting up plan with child, including choosing incentives together
3. Emotion coaching
EDP Session Planner #3
  • Recognizing child emotions and emotional expression
  • Listening and validating child's emotion
  • Helping child label or name their feeling
  • With child, explore solutions to problem that led to unpleasant feeling
  • Learn responses to avoid (e.g., judging, minimizing)
4. Mindful parenting – managing emotions in everyday interactions
EDP Session Planner #4
  • Co-regulation between parent and child
  • Taking a break or time out
  • S-T-O-P Technique
  • Parent self-care plan
  • Connecting thoughts, feelings, and actions
  • Reframing thoughts
  • Mindful breathing

Domain: EFFECTIVE LIMIT SETTING

When to use:

Limit setting and supervision are good strategies when parents have difficulty setting limits or difficulty following through with limits, and when child is engaging in problem behaviors.

Caregiver Goals:

These sessions are useful when caregiver goals are something like – youth will stop Y problem behaviors; knowing what's going on with youth; keeping youth safe; giving consequences that work

SESSION
SKILLS COVERED IN SESSION
5. Supervision, listening, and monitoring activities
EDP Session Planner #5
  • Learning active listening skills to support positive communication
  • Staying engaged with youth to build trusting, supportive relationships
  • Communication skill: Questions that help with monitoring
6. Setting limits: Effective rules
EDP Session Planner #6
  • Developing effective, clear rules
  • Maintaining consistent expectations for following rules
  • Communicating the rules and consequences to youth and others
  • Checking up and monitoring youth cooperation
7. Limit setting: Effective consequences
EDP Session Planner #7
  • Learning types of consequences and when to use them (e.g., loss of privilege, mindful ignoring)
  • Using SANE guidelines for identifying appropriate consequences
  • Consistently giving effective consequences when rules are broken
  • Troubleshooting problems with giving consequences and addressing serious child problem behaviors
  • Strategies for staying CALM when setting limits/giving consequences
  • Developing a plan for behavior change including how to monitor and identify incentives for positive behavior
  • Setting up plan with child, including choosing incentives together

Domain: FAMILY RELATIONSHIP BUILDING

When to use:

These sessions are helpful for families who have difficulty effectively communicating, which might include high levels of conflict, and difficulty finding solutions to family problems. They also can be helpful when families are experiencing changes or transitions.

Caregiver Goals:

These sessions are useful when caregiver goals are something like - having more communication with youth; learning how to solve problems; reducing conflict; having more clear routines to help with planning ahead and being proactive; having more time and/or more fun together as a family

SESSION
SKILLS COVERED IN SESSION
8. Effective problem solving and communication
EDP Session Planner #8
  • Learning guidelines for effective problem solving (what, when, where to problem solve)
  • Do's and don'ts of negotiation
  • Communication skill: Making neutral problem statements
9. Choosing solutions to family problems
EDP Session Planner #9
  • Recognizing child effort when negotiating
  • Problem solving steps
10. Proactive parenting and planning ahead
EDP Session Planner #10
  • PLAN to identify troublesome situations and adjust as needed to stop problems before they occur
  • Proactive parenting practices, including: structure and regular routines, giving reminders, giving choices, redirection, and good communication
11. Practices that promote communication and connection: Shared family routines
EDP Session Planner #11
  • Developing shared enjoyable family routines (daily, weekly, monthly, yearly) that help build family relationships
  • Self-assessment of family communication
  • Communication skills: open-ended questions, invitations, active listening