What is PMT (And Why We Like It)

Parent Management Training (PMT), also known as Parent Training, provides parents with the support they need to build stronger relationships with their children and reduce unhelpful behaviors. Whether your child is having tantrums, struggling with symptoms of ADHD, or ignoring instructions, the whole family is impacted by unhelpful or unexpected behaviors. Conflict between parents and kids is stressful for everyone. This evidence-based therapy is one of the most effective in promoting prosocial behavior in youth with ADHD and behavioral challenges. And research shows that Parent Training helps increase parent wellness by reducing stress. 

But what exactly is Parent Training?

Parent Training is an evidence-based approach to help parents manage moderate to very challenging child behavior. Many parents are already using helpful strategies at home (i.e., praise, reinforcement, active ignoring of some circumstances, etc.). Parent training capitalizes on this and helps parents use their skills in more effective and supportive ways. Parent Training also provides helpful education on the function of child behavior and introduces new skills for more difficult behaviors. Ultimately, this therapy aims to build stronger parent-child relationships by helping parents attend differently to child behavior.

What does Parent Training look like?

In Parent Training sessions, parents are generally seen without the child present. However, children may be asked to participate in some sessions to learn and practice skills with their parent(s). At each meeting, the therapist will introduce a new concept or technique (or work on one you already learned) to help address your child’s behavior and practice it with you in session. And (you guessed it!), there is always practice or homework outside of the session. This is largely to help parents generalize new skills and discover limitations or barriers to skill implementation. 

And there will be bumps in the learning process. Your therapist is there to help validate and address cultural, environmental, and emotional factors along the way. Your therapist also recognizes that change is hard and some of this is going to take some time. They are there to support you.

Lastly, Parent Management Training can also be offered in group settings where parents learn alongside other parents going through similar experiences. Group therapy can be a more cost-effective and supportive approach. Want to learn more about PMT, or even give it a try, reach out to Mind Chicago at hello@mindchicago.com.

Written by Mind Chicago therapist Courtney Chamerski, LSW