Joaquin Borrego

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy with a Family at High Risk for Physical Abuse

The use of empirically validated treatments with physically abusive and at-risk families continues to be an issue requiring further clinical and research attention. This single-case study discusses the effectiveness of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) with a mother-child dyad considered to be at high risk for physical abuse. Although PCIT is effective with different populations and in different settings, no study to date has demonstrated the effectiveness of PCIT with physically abusive families or families at risk for physical abuse. Data are presented from behavioral observations and standardized measures. Results suggest that PCIT was effective in reducing the childs behavior problems and the mothers stress, and increasing the number of positive parent-child interactions. Finally, implications for future clinical and research work on physically abusive and at-risk families are discussed.

A Reporting and Response Model for Culture and Child Maltreatment

As our society becomes increasingly culturally diverse, there is a growing concern in the mental health field as to whether clinicians are able to accurately distinguish different cultural parenting discipline practices from child maltreatment. Clinicians in various fields continue to differ on what is reportable. Although there is literature describing characteristics of various ethnic minority groups, there are limited data to support why clinicians do what they do and no decision-making model to guide a clinicians reporting behavior when working with clients from different cultures. This article focuses on cultural discipline practices rather than healing practices (e.g., coining) that may be challenging to assess. The authors propose a model to guide clinicians through the decision-making process and discuss interventions and clinical responses that may be most appropriate when presented with different scenarios involving cultural parenting discipline practices and child maltreatment. Finally, limitations of the presented model along with future clinical and research directions are discussed.

Parent–Child Interaction Therapy with Domestic Violence Populations

Domestic violence continues to be a significant social problem impacting our society. Battered women and their children experience a myriad of negative consequences as a result of domestic violence. Of the possible negative sequelae that mothers and children experience, the disrupted parent–child relationship has received relatively little attention in the literature. Though psychosocial interventions are available to treat women who experience violence and children who witness violence, few interventions focus on the parent–child relationship. This article describes parent–child interaction therapy (PCIT), a relationship-based intervention. Although not initially developed to treat domestic violence, PCIT has unique characteristics that make it a promising intervention with this population. A rationale for the use of PCIT with battered women and their children is presented.

Cultural Considerations in Stepped-Care and E-Health Interventions

The Unites States continues to experience a rapid demographic change with regard to culturally diverse (i.e., ethnic and racial minority) populations. As examples, people of Asian-origin heritage (e.g., Chinese, Japanese, Korean) have increased by over 200% (Leong et al., 2003) and people of Latino origin (e.g., Mexican, Puerto Rican, Dominican) have experienced a growth rate eight times faster than Caucasians (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2000) in the last couple of decades. In fact, Latinos have surpassed African-Americans as the largest ethnic minority group in the United States. Given this trend with Asians, Latinos, and other ethnic and racial minority groups, it is expected that ethnic minorities will constitute the majority of the US population in the next few decades. Part of this rapid shift in demographics is driven by the continued high immigration patterns with some of these groups.

Cultural Considerations and Treatment Complications

As ethnic and racial minority groups continue to grow (United States Bureau of the Census, 2005), the field of clinical psychology must meet the mental health needs in a culturally appropriate manner. Despite the acknowledgement of the need for culturally relevant responses, the Surgeon General reports that ethnic minority members.