Workshop 7
Building Change-Focused Relationships in Teacher and Parent Consultation: A Toolbox of Practical Strategies
This workshop
invites participants to adopt the “consultation mindset” in working with
teachers, parents, and others caregivers on solutions to child and
adolescent problems at school and elsewhere. The consultation mindset
includes a set of practical assumptions about people, problems, and
solutions, along with specific strategies for building cooperative,
change-focused relationships with key caregivers. Practical, research-driven
strategies that are covered in this workshop include the following: (1)
listening with change-focused ears; (2) validating people’s frustrations and
perceptions; (3) offering direct and indirect compliments; (4) using the
“language of change” to boost people’s hope and involvement; (5) developing
goals that matter; (6) accommodating people’s theory of change; (7) building
on “what works and what’s right” with caregivers; (8) noticing and
empowering small signs of progress; (9) writing short, change-focused
letters to caregivers; (10) obtaining consumer feedback and adjusting
services; (11) working with so-called resistant or reluctant consultees; and
(12) applying consultation skills and strategies to school-based problem
solving teams, academic and behavioral intervention, report-writing,
teacher/parent training programs, supervision, systems-level change, and
other change-focused activities. The workshop includes numerous videotaped
and “live” demonstrations, experiential exercises, and practice/application
activities designed to increase the practical relevance and applicability of
training content the very next day on the job.
Workshop Agenda
The Consultation Mindset
- Practical Assumptions about People, Problems, and Solutions
Research on What Works (and Doesn't Work) in Helping People Change
-Research on Consumer Involvement and Treatment Acceptability
Skills and Strategies for Building Change-Focused Consultation Relationships (Part One)
-Listening, Validating, and Complimenting
- Using the "language of change" to boost hope, involvement, and solutions
- Developing Goals that Matter
Skills and Strategies for Building Change-Focused Consultation Relationships (Part Two)
- Building on What Works and What's Right
- Obtaining Ongoing Consumer Feedback
Empowering Any Sign of Change and Progress
- Noticing and Responding to Small Signs of Change and Cooperation
- Writing Change-Focused Letters
Applying Consultation Thinking and Strategies to Other Activities
- School-Based Problem Solving Teams, Academic Behavioral Intervention, Report-Writing, Teacher/Parent Training Programs, Supervision, and Systems-Level Change
CEU/Learning Objectives
Workshop participants will obtain knowledge and skills in:
Applying research-based strategies of relationship-building to consultation services
Building cooperative, change-focused relationships with teachers, parents, and other caregivers.
Using change-focused questions and other language techniques that promote cooperation and solutions from the opening moments of contact with teachers, parents, and others
Noticing and empowering small changes throughout the consultation process
Using quick and practiced methods to obtain consumer feedback
Applying consultation skills and strategies to school-based problem solving teams, academic and behavioral intervention, report-writing, teacher/parent training programs, supervision, systems-level change, and other change-focused activities