Ready-to-use therapeutic exercises for overcoming parenting deficits

The Parenting Skills Homework Planner provides complete, customizable, copy-ready exercises for use with parents in therapy. Designed as a companion for the Parenting Skills Treatment Planner, this invaluable resource can also be used alone to facilitate counseling and help clients take a more proactive role. Organized by topic, each section provides specific goals for each exercise and suggests additional exercises that may help clients organize their thoughts and behaviors surrounding complex family dynamics. From behavioral problems and negative relationships to career development, blended families, grandparenting, and much more, this book provides practical tools for therapists helping clients navigate the landmines of parenthood.

In an era of brief therapy, tangible homework assignments help clients continue their therapeutic work outside of the session, offering a quicker, more effective route to solving parenting skills deficits. This book provides insightful prompts and helpful exercises designed to uncover the root of the problem, focus on a solution, and help clients think deeply and critically about past and ongoing behaviors and habits.

• Use tested homework assignments independently, or in alignment with the Parenting Skills Treatment Planner
• Customize each exercise to suit each client's situation using downloadable files
• Help clients get more out of therapy by using time between sessions productively
• Tackle issues relating to abuse, depression, school difficulties, divorce, poverty, and more

Today's complex family structures, combined with increased childhood pressures from school, peers, and the general culture, make parenting a more difficult job than ever before. Homework assignments extend therapy into family time, and facilitate constructive thought and discussion outside of the session. With 60 customizable exercises tailored to specific parenting problems, the Parenting Skills Homework Planner is an essential resource for the family therapist.

ARTHUR E. JONGSMA, Jr., PhD, is the Series Editor for the bestselling Practice Planners Since 1971, he has provided professional mental health services to both inpatient and outpatient clients. He was the founder and Director of Psychological Consultants, a group private practice in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for 25 years. He is the author or co-author of over forty books and conducts training workshops for mental health professionals around the world.

SARAH EDISON KNAPP, MSW, CSW, is a former school social worker who now devotes her time and expertise to helping educators and parents relate to children in positive and highly effective ways. She is the author of several books including The School Counseling and School Social Work Treatment Planner, Second Edition published by Wiley.

• Contains 60 ready-to-copy homework assignments that can be used to facilitate therapy with parents
• Homework assignments and exercises are keyed to the behaviorally based presenting problems from The Parenting Skills Treatment Planner
• Assignments are available online for quick customization

Customizable, practice-tested exercises for use in counseling and therapy with parents

The Parenting Skills Homework Planner offers counselors and therapists an array of ready-to-use, between- session assignments designed to fit virtually every therapeutic mode.

This practical sourcebook features:

• Ready-to-copy exercises designed to aid parents
• A quick-reference format with the interactive assignments grouped by behavioral problem, from ADHD and trauma to bullying and sexual abuse
• Directions on how and when to make the most efficient use of the exercises with stated goals and additional exercises if needed
• Assignments cross-referenced to The Parenting Skills Treatment Planner which give you the ability to quickly identify the right exercise for a given situation or behavioral problem
• Downloadable assignments allow you to customize exercises to suit you and your clients' unique styles and needs

Wiley PracticePlanners^® Series Preface xiii

Acknowledgments xv

Introduction xvii

Section IAbusive Parenting 1

Exercise I.A Our Family's Secret Story 5

Exercise I.B Measuring Our Feelings 14

Section IIAttention-Deficit /Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) 19

Exercise II.A ADHD Accommodations Request Form 23

Exercise II.B Family Problem Resolution Worksheet 29

Section IIIAttention-Seeking Behavior 33

Exercise III.A Family Job Support Checklist 37

Exercise III.B My Love and Trust Support Network 42

Section IVBlended Family 45

Exercise IV.A Healing Hurt Feelings 49

Exercise IV.B Unique Roles in Our Blended Family 53

Section VBonding/Attachment Issues 57

Exercise V.A Steps to Responsible Behavior 60

Exercise V.B The Behavior Progress Chart 64

Section VICareer Preparation 69

Exercise VI.A Career Family Tree 72

Exercise VI.B School-to-Career Diary 78

Section VIICharacter Development 83

Exercise VII.A Division of Family Labor 86

Exercise VII.B Sharing the Family Resources 90

Section VIIIChildren with Physical Challenges 95

Exercise VIII.A Strategies for Supporting Our Child with Physical Challenges 100

Exercise VIII.B Working Together to Create a Plan 102

Section IXConduct Disorder/Delinquent Behavior 105

Exercise IX.A Replacing Noncompliance with Compliance and Cooperation 109

Exercise IX.B Using Privileges as Contingencies and Consequences 114

Section XDependent Children/Overprotective Parent 117

Exercise X.A Overprotective Parent versus Positive Parent 120

Exercise X.B Creating and Cooperating with Family Rules 124

Section XIDepression 127

Exercise XI.A Creating Positive Self-Talk 130

Exercise XI.B Managing Positive and Negative Relationships 134

Section XIIDivorce/Separation 139

Exercise XII.A Divorce is Not My Fault 142

Exercise XII.B Assuming Our Parental Responsibilities 145

Section XIIIEating Disorder 149

Exercise XIII.A Beautiful on the Inside 152

Exercise XIII.B Modeling Healthy Attitudes about Nutrition, Exercise, and Body Image 156

Section XIVGifted/Talented 159

Exercise XIV.A Teaching Responsibility 162

Exercise XIV.B Procedures for Meals, Bedtime, and the Morning Routine 165

Section XVGrandparenting Strategies 169

Exercise XV.A Parents' Rules versus Grandparents' Rules 172

Exercise XV.B Personal Boundaries for Interaction with the Grandchildren 176

Section XVIGrief/Loss 181

Exercise XVI.A Monitoring Our Reactions to Change and Loss 184

Exercise XVI.B Grief and Loss Circle of Support 188

Section XVIIOppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) 191

Exercise XVII.A Planning for Disruptive Behavior 194

Exercise XVII.B Family-Approved Media List 198

Section XVIIIPeer Relationships/Influences 201

Exercise XVIII.A Social Influences in My Child's Life 204

Exercise XVIII.B Peer Pressures, Values, and Influences 207

Section XIXPosttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) 213

Exercise XIX.A Reframing Our Worries 216

Exercise XIX.B Physical Receptors of Stress 220

Section XXPoverty-Related Issues 223

Exercise XX.A Achieving Family Goals 227

Exercise X…