Here we will explore what I call the Parent-Child Dance: those transactions between parent and child that occur many times a day, from the morning routine to the bedtime routine, and even the “middle-of-the-night” routine. Dances can go well, smoothly and efficiently. Or, they can be fraught with conflict, frustration, and struggle. These “dances” between parent and child are often well-practiced, and thereby, barely conscious and difficult to change when needed. We will learn how challenging parent-child transactions, largely held together with mutual negative reinforcement, can be identified, made more conscious, and ultimately “rechoreographed” using a three-step process-based model.

Step One, increasing everyone’s awareness, will be introduced using the ACT processes of Present Moment Awareness and Self-as-Context. The concept of Other-as-Context will be introduced.