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Working with Challenging Parents in Child Therapy

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1.  Which of the following is NOT an example of a parental behavior commonly experienced by therapists as challenging? Showing up to session late Calling their child “bad” Insisting on wanting to know everything their child talks about in session Requesting check in sessions with the therapist

2.  Which of the following is an example of a helpful question for mental health professionals to ask themself when feeling challenged by parental behavior? ‘What is the story I am telling myself?’ ‘Why can’t this parent respect me?’ ‘Am I a bad therapist?’ ‘Should I get a different job?’

3.  Which of these behaviors are common when a person is operating from the ventral vagal/social engagement state of their nervous system? Able to respond effectively Yelling at one’s child Self-criticism Difficulty getting out of bed

4.  Which of these is NOT commonly displayed when a person operates from the sympathetic/mobilized state of their nervous system? Thinking about worst case scenarios Self-compassionate thinking Anger/blame/rage Feelings of urgency

5.  Which of the following is a common symptom of a person being in the dorsal vagal state of their nervous system? Numbness Appropriate communication Effective problem solving Effective responses

6.  Ensuring that therapeutic goals are clarified and agreed upon at the beginning. This ________________ the risk of misunderstanding and miscommunication. Increases Balances Diminishes Lowers

7.  Which of the following is an important example of how to build connection with parents/caregivers? Identify agreed upon goals Talk about your shared neighborhood Don’t charge for missed appointments Discuss how you can relate to their challenges because your child acts the same as theirs

8.  What is “Shark Music” according to Circle of Security? The noise of people chewing too loud When a child throws a tantrum in the office The idea that behavior that would have led to negative consequences, when displayed by their child, may set off an internal alarm system, creating a sense of urgency to find a way to stop the behavior The sound of the beach

9.  Therapist self-reflection may bring up a __________________ from the therapist’s own history. Fear of messing up Feeling of being appreciated Fear of missing out Feeling of gratefulness

10.  Which of the following is is a question that therapist should ask themselves as part of their self-reflection? How can I use this reflection to launch my private practice? How can I use this recognition to promote growth among my colleagues? How can I use this overcome my personal family issues? How can I use this recognition for my own personal and professional growth?