ABSTRACT
In the second parent meeting, the clinician meets with the parents or parent-surrogates to discuss with them their ideas about the child and their recommendations for further psychotherapeutic work. The work that is described in this chapter highlights the importance of understanding the triggers of the irritability and the disruptive symptoms while maintaining attention upon the diathesis with which many of these children are burdened. The permissive attitude and encouragement of uncensored communication by the child towards the clinician should not be replicated by the parents. It is important to stress with parents that the effects of particular sensory and temperamental characteristics can be modulated by the attention of a sensitive, responsive caregiver. It is valuable for the clinician to explain to the parents the rationale for the permissive attitude in the sessions, to allow access to the child's conflicts and maladaptive regulating mechanisms that underlie the externalizing behaviors. Parent meetings can promote the process.
