| Parent training is perhaps the most powerful tool in | | | | Christian parenting literature, they are often met with |
| touching the emotional and behavioral lives of children, | | | | a focus on the childs behavior and the need to |
| parents, and families. Although most parent training | | | | provide appropriate discipline. Discipline, while |
| programs focus on behavior management for children | | | | psychologically appropriate, is incomplete. With some |
| who act out, if a childs behavior is primarily a | | | | popular parenting approaches, there is potential to |
| reflection of emotional turmoil and unmet needs, | | | | equate discipline with behavioral control or |
| behavior controls will not have a lasting impact. It | | | | punishment. The concept of discipline as a relational |
| becomes necessary to provide an intervention that | | | | or teaching process can easily get lost. Labeling a child |
| touches the child at emotional and relational levels, | | | | as Åstrong-willed or a Åproblem may in |
| while empowering the parent to be the change agent | | | | fact be an accurate interpretation. Nevertheless, such |
| for the child, themselves, and their relationship. Filial | | | | labeling can result in the justification of the use of |
| therapy does just this. | | | | force to bring about compliance. |
| As parents look to Christian therapists and to | | | | |