The Rational Positive Parenting Program

In this book we will describe how Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT) based parenting interventions have historically addressed the emotional disturbances of parents (Joyce, 1995) that interfere with effective parenting, and the recent advances in clinical cognitive sciences that are relevant to this topic (Gavita, Joyce, & David, 2011). A substantial emphasis will include the evidence-based status of the REBT protocols of parenting programs for children with externalizing disorders (Gavita et al., 2012). Cognitive-behavioral parenting interventions are the treatment of choice for addressing externalizing disorders of childhood (see NICE, 2008; 2013), and their effectiveness is well documented now (Thomas & Zimmer-Gembeck, 2007; Webster-Stratton, 2002). It was proposed (see Lovejoy, Graczyk, O Hare, & Neuman, 2000) that parenting programs for child behavior problems could be enhanced by using an integrated focus on the emotion-regulation strategies used by parents. This would maximize their short and long-term effects. The research and contents of the curricula of the Rational Positive Parenting Program (Gavita, DiGiuseppe, & David, 2013) will be presented in detail, based on its standard format (Gavita, 2011), short format (Gavita et al., 2012), and self-help format (Gavita & Calin, 2013), which have been investigated in clinical trials. The Rational Positive Parenting program will be described underlying its evidence-based approach and direct practice in addressing externalizing disorders in children."