ABSTRACT
The past decade has witnessed an increase in the incidence of verbal and physical abuse enacted by children against their parents. Once relatively rare, cases of child aggression against parents have appeared with alarming frequency in both the media and in clinicians' offices. This emerging trend likely reflects a structural breakdown of the family, in which parents no longer maintain a position of authority over their children. Thus, when such families seek professional assistance, restoration of parental authority and utilization of healthy disciplinary principles should be primary therapeutic goals. The following is a family therapy technique used to support parents in dealing with verbal abuse, particularly insults, from their children. The technique itself will be presented first, followed by a theoretical explanation of its origin and utility.
