Integrating cognitive strategies into behavioral treatment for abusive parents and families with aggressive adolescents

In this article we describe cognitive problems that mark two parenting populations, abusive parents and parents of aggressive adolescents. We summarize the research characterizing the nature of these difficulties for both populations in three areas: distorted expectations and attributions, poor cognitive problem-solving capacities and poor anger control and stress management skills. We then describe promising cognitive strategies to address these difficulties. We suggest these strategies will enhance currently available behavioral approaches and address the complex tasks of parenting more fully.