One would like to believe that advances in science have resulted in improved outcomes for troubled youth. Trends in treatment have changed dramatically in two decades. Technology to understand the brain and its functions are highly advanced. But the United States is now medicating youth more than any other country. There is growing concern about…

This paper, written for counselors, psychologists, and educators, presents an integrative review of family therapy and parent training literature. Following the introduction, section 2 reviews family systems theory and family therapy; a definition of family therapy, a historical perspective, and theories of family systems, including the…

The knowledgeable professional who works with special children recognizes that the parents of special children have an important effect in the children's development. The paper states that in China, parent involvement in special children's education has been limited by the parents' need to work and their lack of counseling experience with special…

In this article, the author considers some issues concerning future research into school-based assessment and management of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). He focuses on a few issues of some relevance to school interventions for children and teens with ADHD. He features three articles that found that less intensive interventions…

Select research and practice issues that merit further attention are described. Specifically, we argue that the pathways for profitable research include studies of normative development, assessment and diagnostic considerations, the role of parents, and the ways to optimize the conduct and evaluation of treatment. At present, the field is too…

This paper reviews the behavior modification and internalization models of parental control of children, and explores the conceptualizations of children's responses to control that are emerging from the literature on development. In the behavior modification model, no distinction is made among types of child compliance or noncompliance.…

Cites research on smiling and laughter to illustrate a dynamic systems approach to emotion communication. Maintains that emotion is relational and not individual; the nonreflexive aspects of emotion involve the connection between a person and a context taken as a whole. Presents findings regarding social processes involved in smiling and laughter…

Developing positive self-images and self-discipline is a prerequisite for the effective education of African American children. The following factors have had a negative influence on their development: (1) chronic unemployment and underemployment; (2) the changing concept of childhood; (3) elitism; (4) low expectations; (5) lack of commitment to…

The article describes children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), noting it can contribute to school underachievement, learning disabilities, difficulties in social adjustment, and emotional disorders. It examines diagnosis, neurobehavioral factors, and outcome and discusses coping via behavior modification at home, classroom…

Describes cognitive-behavioral approach to family therapy for suicidal people. Reviews relationship between family interactions and suicide. Highlights general strategies for treating suicidal family members. Focuses on adolescents and parents. Includes clinical examples. Suggests family influence on members' emotional and social adjustment is…

This article discusses the characteristics of "positive behavior support," the incorporation of families as collaborators rather than helpers, the ecological validity of positive behavior support, outcomes that stress changes in lifestyle that permit inclusion in community-based activities from which the student was formerly excluded,…

This response to several commentaries on a successful behavior support plan that was used to address the challenging behaviors of a 9-year-old boy with severe disabilities focuses on the importance of multiple perspectives and multiple research methodologies, the benefit and challenge of parent partnerships, and issues related to practice and…

This commentary discusses the successful partnership between the parents and the school in addressing the challenging behaviors of a 9-year-old boy with severe disabilities. Stages of the successful partnership and characteristics of behavior support plans that have good contextual fit are described. (Author/CR)

Research by Nathan Fox and other scientists shows how changes in environmental conditions can help temper the negative effects of a child's predisposition toward fearfulness and anxiety. If certain negative triggers are eliminated or modified, a child's genetic tendency toward inappropriate fearfulness and anxiety may be overcome--or not expressed…