Psychology 7205 Advanced Child Intervention (Winter 2024)

This course provides students with an opportunity to explore specific therapeutic interventions used in the treatment of psychological problems experienced by children and adolescents. Empirically supported approaches to the treatment of childhood behavioural problems, anxiety, depression and other issues impacting children will be reviewed. Students also have an opportunity to learn about approaches that are often used with parents, guardians and others who help children. Specific therapeutic approaches primarily used with adolescents are also reviewed. Students have opportunities to gain experience in practicing some of these techniques through experiences such as class-based role plays and delivery of an empirically supported parenting program to groups of parents. Implications of cultural and individual diversities for interventions with children and adolescents are explored.

Course Instructor
Stephen Butler

Jan 12:

Littell, J. H. (2005). Lessons from a systematic review of effects of multisystemic therapy. Children and youth services review, 27(4), 445-463.

Henggeler, S. W., Schoenwald, S. K., Borduin, C. M., & Swenson, C. C. (2006). Methodological critique and meta-analysis as Trojan horse. Children and youth services review, 28(4), 447-457.

Littell, J. H. (2006). The case for Multisystemic Therapy: Evidence or orthodoxy?. Children and youth services review, 28(4), 458-472.

Optional Readings:

Littell, J. H., Pigott, T. D., Nilsen, K. H., Green, S. J., & Montgomery, O. L. (2021). Multisystemic Therapy® for social, emotional, and behavioural problems in youth age 10 to 17: An updated systematic review and meta‐analysis. Campbell Systematic Reviews, 17(4), e1158.

Jan 19:

Butler, S., Baruch, G., Hickey, N., & Fonagy, P. (2011). A randomized controlled trial of multisystemic therapy and a statutory therapeutic intervention for young offenders. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 50(12), 1220-1235.

Fonagy, P., Butler, S., Cottrell, D., Scott, S., Pilling, S., Eisler, I., ... & Ellison, R. (2018). Multisystemic therapy versus management as usual in the treatment of adolescent antisocial behaviour (START): a pragmatic, randomised controlled, superiority trial. The Lancet Psychiatry, 5(2), 119-133.

Optional Readings:

Fonagy, P., Butler, S., Cottrell, D., Scott, S., Pilling, S., Eisler, I., ... & Smith, J. A. (2020). Multisystemic therapy versus management as usual in the treatment of adolescent antisocial behaviour (START): 5-year follow-up of a pragmatic, randomised, controlled, superiority trial. The Lancet Psychiatry, 7(5), 420-430.

Conroy, D., Smith, J., Butler, S., Byford, S., Cottrell, D., Kraam, A., ... & Anokhina, A. (2021). The long-term impact of Multi-Systemic Therapy: An experiential study of the adolescent-young adult life transitionJournal of Adolescent Research, 1-34.

Tighe, A., Pistrang, N., Casdagli, L., Baruch, G., & Butler, S. (2012). Multisystemic therapy for young offenders: Families' experiences of therapeutic processes and outcomes. Journal of Family Psychology, 26(2), 187.

Optional Readings:

Fox, S., Bibi, F., Millar, H., & Holland, A. (2017). The role of cultural factors in engagement and change in Multisystemic Therapy (MST). Journal of Family Therapy, 39(2), 243-263.

Bunting, A., Fox, S., Adhyaru, J., & Holland, A. (2020). Considerations for minority ethnic young people in multisystemic therapy. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 1-15.

Jan 26:

Carr, A. (2006). Family therapy: Concepts, process and practice. John Wiley & Sons; Chapter: 3 Theories that focus on behaviour patterns pp. 76-109; Chapter 4: Theories that focus on belief systems pp. 110-153.

Video: Assessment and Engagement in Family Therapy: https://www-psychotherapy-net.proxy.library.upei.ca/stream/upei/video?vid=387

Feb 2:

Selvini, M. P., Boscolo, L., Cecchin, G., & Prata, G. (1980). Hypothesizing—circularity—neutrality: Three guidelines for the conductor of the session. Family process, 19(1), 3-12.

Cecchin, G. (1987). Hypothesizing, circularity, and neutrality revisited: An invitation to curiosity. Family process, 26(4), 405-413.

Adams, J. (2014). Milan systemic therapy. In An Introduction to Marriage and Family Therapy (pp. 182-205). Routledge

Mar 1:

Berryhill, M. B., & Lechtenberg, M. M. (2015). Acceptance and commitment therapy with adolescents: Identifying and clarifying values. Journal of family psychotherapy, 26(1), 25-30.

Bowden, T., & Bowden, S. (2012). Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT): An overview for practitioners. Journal of Psychologists and Counsellors in Schools, 22(2), 279-285.

Petersen, J. M., Ona, P. Z., & Twohig, M. P. (2022). A Review of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Adolescents: Developmental and Contextual Considerations. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice. 1-18.

Van der Gucht, K., Griffith, J. W., Hellemans, R., Bockstaele, M., Pascal-Claes, F., & Raes, F. (2017). Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for adolescents: Outcomes of a large-sample, school-based, cluster-randomized controlled trial. Mindfulness, 8(2), 408-416.

Optional Readings:

Petersen, J. M., Davis, C. H., Renshaw, T. L., Levin, M. E., & Twohig, M. P. (2022). School-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Adolescents with Anxiety: A Pilot Trial. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 1-17.

Turrell, S. L., & Bell, M. (2016). ACT for adolescents: Treating teens and adolescents in individual and group therapy. New Harbinger Publications.

Mar 8

Robin, A. L., & Foster, S. L. (2002). Negotiating parent-adolescent conflict: A behavioral-family systems approach. Guilford Press. Chapter 1: Introduction; Chapter2: Theoretical Orientation.

Mar 15

Leschied, A. W., Saklofske, D. H., & Flett, G. L. (2018). Handbook of school-based mental health promotion. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing.

1. What Works in School-Based Mental Health Service Delivery? Carissa M. Orlando, William Bradley, Tristan A. Collier, Jennifer Ulie-Wells, Elaine Miller and Mark D. Weist

2. Schools and Mental Health: Is some Necessary Re-examining in Order?  Stan Kutcher, Yifeng Wei and Mina Hashish

Mar 22

De Shazer, S., Berg, J. K., Lipchik, E., Nunnally, E., Molnar, A., Gingerich, W. & Weiner-Davis, M. (1986). Brief therapy: Focused solution development. Family Process, 25, 207–221.

Berg, I. K., & De Jong, P. (1996). Solution-building conversations: Co-constructing a sense of competence with clients. Families in Society, 77(6), 376-391. 

Bond, C., Woods, K., Humphrey, N., Symes, W., & Green, L. (2013). Practitioner review: The effectiveness of solution focused brief therapy with children and families: A systematic and critical evaluation of the literature from 1990–2010. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 54(7), 707-723. 

Optional Readings:

Kim, J., Jordan, S. S., Franklin, C., & Froerer, A. (2019). Is solution-focused brief therapy evidence-based? An update 10 years later. Families in Society, 100(2), 127-138.

https://www-psychotherapy-net.proxy.library.upei.ca/stream/upei/video?vid=044

https://www-psychotherapy-net.proxy.library.upei.ca/stream/upei/video?vid=166

Mar 29

Ansloos, J., Stewart, S., Fellner, K., Goodwill, A., Graham, H., McCormick, R., ... & Mushquash, C. (2019). Indigenous peoples and professional training in psychology in Canada. Canadian Psychology/Psychologie canadienne, 60(4), 265.

Atkinson, D. (2017). Considerations for Indigenous child and youth population mental health promotion in Canada. National Collaborating Centres for Public Health. https://www.nccih.ca/495/Considerations_for_Indigenous_child_and_youth_…

Finlay, J., Hardy, M., Morris, D. & Nagy, A. (2010).  Mamow Ki-ken-da-ma-win:  A Partnership Approach to Child, Youth, Family and Community Wellbeing. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, Vol. 7; Issue 4.

Ralph, S., & Ryan, K. (2017). Addressing the mental health gap in working with indigenous youth: Some considerations for non‐Indigenous psychologists working with Indigenous youth. Australian Psychologist, 52(4), 288-298. 

Gone, J. P., Hartmann, W. E., Pomerville, A., Wendt, D. C., Klem, S. H., & Burrage, R. L. (2019). The impact of historical trauma on health outcomes for indigenous populations in the USA and Canada: A systematic review. American Psychologist, 74(1), 20. 

Lockwood, I., Peterson-Badali, M., & Schmidt, F. (2018). The relationship between risk, criminogenic need, and recidivism for indigenous justice-involved youth. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 45(11), 1688-1708.

Nelson, S. E., & Wilson, K. (2017). The mental health of Indigenous peoples in Canada: A critical review of research. Social Science & Medicine, 176, 93-112.

Williams, A. D., Clark, T. C., & Lewycka, S. (2018). The associations between cultural identity and mental health outcomes for indigenous Māori youth in New Zealand. Frontiers in public health, 6, 319