Definitions
Strengths-based Facilitation Model
Parents Plus programmes are strengths-based and solution-focused. This means that the focus is on building on parent and child strengths and finding solutions that fit with the goals and preferences of individual families.
All Parents Plus facilitators are trained in a strengths-based style of group delivery.
This means that facilitators are encouraged to:
- Focus on parent identified goals and outcomes for their families.
- Adopt a ‘non-expert’ stance and focus on drawing out parents’ own knowledge and expertise.
- Recognise that parents know their children best and know what works best in their families.
- Avoid blaming parents and instead focus on what they are doing right and where they are successful.
- Encourage parents to compassionately understand their own needs as well as those of their children.
- Avoid over-teaching the parents in the group and instead, facilitate parents on a journey of self-discovery about themselves and their children.
- Build on a sense of community and draw on the group members to support and inform one another.
The Parents Plus strengths-based model is described in the textbooks, Becoming a Solution Detective (Sharry, Madden, & Darmody, 2012). Solution Focused Groupwork (Sharry, 2007) and Counselling Children, Adolescents and Families (Sharry, 2004).
Trauma-Informed Programmes
The Parents Plus Programmes integrate a trauma-informed perspective to support the emotional well-being and development of children and adolescents. The central emphasis of programme content is on building warm attached and connected family relationships. Parents are invited to ‘tune in’ and compassionately understand their children’s emotional experiences and to create safe and nurturing home environments. In responding to challenges, the Parents Plus approach is about ‘pausing’, responding calmly and empowering parents to regulate their own emotions as they co-regulate their children’s emotions.
Additionally, the Parents Plus Programmes are sensitive to the fact that many parents who attend the groups may have experienced trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACE) themselves. Within the Parents Plus programmes, there is a strong emphasis on parent self-reflection and on parent care. Much of the programme content is focused on addressing parents own individual needs. Also, the programmes can be delivered in a flexible manner and parents who require additional support can be provided with individual sessions and tailored parallel support.