ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a structured approach to assist parents in forming a warm, meaningful relationship with their children. School personnel referred an eleven-year-old male and his father for therapy services at a community mental health center because the child was exhibiting school refusal and the father was not successful at remediating the situation. Therapeutically, several issues were addressed, such as abandonment by the biological mother. Increasing and improving the parent-child interaction, however, became the focus of treatment. The importance of quality interaction was discussed with the child and his father and then the components of Special Time were explained. Initially, the father was resistant to the idea. Inform parents that recent research findings suggest a relationship between families who eat dinner together and more positive child outcomes. The therapist empathized with the father and provided support and encouragement while continuing to stress the significance of parent -child interaction that goes beyond the necessities of everyday life.
