ABSTRACT
Parents of children and adolescents who display difficult and troublesome behavior are exposed to educative challenges that may increase their levels of stress, worsen the perception they have of themselves as parents and make their parenting style sterner. In this chapter, we discuss some factors that may contribute to re-establishing a true connection between parents and children, starting from the suitability of a change that directly involves parents. Indeed, when, following stressful situations, personal beliefs on “how to be a good parent” are called into question, parents have the chance to experience a novel way of relating with the child, choosing their behavior with awareness and flexibility based on what is useful to do time after time. The chapter presents the principles of “functional analysis.” It enables the identification of the functions of behaviors and, based on these, determination of the most efficacious strategies to replace problem behaviors with positive ones. We explain the principles and modes of application at the basis of the reinforcement of adaptive behaviors and of the punishment of negative behaviors, as well as of “special time,” meaning the creation and maintenance of a time frame free of tension, which would allow parents and children the chance to experience the pleasure of their relationships, improve communication and share interests.
