Imperial County Behavioral Health Services PRAXES
Teaching tools for parental success
Parents sometimes need a helping hand, a support network that helps them maneuver the treacherous waters of raising a child. While there are any number of programs available, the parenting model known as PRAXES specifically focuses on parents who may feel overwhelmed or are experiencing high levels of stress associated with trying to manage and understand their child’s behavioral and emotional needs.
The goal of PRAXES is to empower parents and provide them with the necessary tools so they can become their child’s biggest advocate while helping improve their child’s behavior.
PRAXES differs from those other programs by focusing on the parent’s needs through empowerment and self-advocacy, said Behavioral Health Manager Brenda Sanchez. “Most of the children we treat struggle with some type of emotional or behavioral problem, Sanchez said. “Our goal is to focus on the parents and their wellbeing; healthy parents equals healthy children.”
Imperial County Behavioral Health Services has been offering PRAXES for more than a year to parents whose children are receiving help through ICBHS. It has proven so beneficial, Sanchez said, that she thinks all parents seeking services through the county agency would benefit from the intensive 12-week program.
Founded by Dan Thorne and taught nationwide, PRAXES stands for Parents Reach Achieve and eXcel through Empowerment Strategies. The PRAXES model website defines it as a behavioral health training model designed “to advance the strength of those with special challenges (mental health, intellectual, or physical) and those who care for them.”
It’s designed for caregivers and parents, including foster parents, adoptive parents, and parents of children who struggle with behavioral and emotional disorders, Sanchez said.
“We want to help parents gain coping strategies, provide them with parenting tools that will help them better manage their child’s needs and understand their child’s condition”, Sanchez said. “If a child has been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) or any other disorder, many parents struggle to understand and accept their child’s condition, and the impact it has on them and their overall function at home, school, and in the community.” The 12-week sessions each take about an hour, with the program lasting three to four months. While the 12-week commitment may seem intimidating, Behavioral Health Services staff helps parents find a way to make it work. “There’s a lot of flexibility” Sanchez said. “We can meet anywhere convenient for the parent, their home, an office, here at any of our clinics.”
The sessions cover stress reduction, grief and loss, assertive communication, support systems, child development, mental health education, parent advocacy, promoting positive behaviors, clear expectations, and solving problems. Once a parent commits, an assessment of their individual needs will be conducted and outcome tools will be completed for the parent and their child to measure their progress at the end of the program. What is important is that services are individualized. PRAXES uses a manual that is used during the sessions. Parents are given a copy of the Parent Manual to use during and in between sessions, when they can practice what they learned.
Techniques parents learn help them to communicate more effectively with their child, how to understand nonverbal cues like fidgeting, which can be a symptom of the child’s inability to focus. “PRAXES shows parents how to present choices, consequences, and follow through, as well as how to acknowledge efforts through verbal praise”, Sanchez said. “It also teaches parents the importance of being genuine in interactions with the child. Children are very intuitive by nature, “Sanchez added. “They can tell when you’re not being genuine.” “The biggest benefit for parents,” she said, “is they learn how resilient they are.” Through PRAXES, parents enhance their strengths and learn that “they are capable of better understanding themselves as parents, and their children,” she said. “PRAXES helps parents understand their emotional wellbeing. which is crucial in ensuring their children’s emotional and physical wellbeing.” “Perhaps most importantly,” Sanchez said, “is parents learn they’re not alone in their struggle. The model is designed specifically to show that a lot of people are going through this. But there is hope and there is help.”
“Our goal is to provide research-based training and materials which reduce stress, improve communication, and nurture skills for families in their home and community life.” – PRAXESmodel.com