Training and Education as a Mental Health Treatment

Training and Education as a Mental Health Treatment

Trainings are a form of treatment that focus on educating the child and the parents on ways to improve the mental health of the child. Trainings are usually done in combination with psychotherapy.

There are a variety of different types of trainings. Parent management training and skills building trainings are described here.

Parent Management Training

Parent management training (PMT) is a form of treatment recommended for families of children with oppositional defiant disorder or other disruptive behaviors. PMT teaches parents to change their own behaviors and thereby alter their child's problem behavior in the home. It works to alter the patterns of negative parent-child interactions that often start in early childhood.

Parents learn to pay attention to a child’s positive and socially- appropriate behavior. If a child misbehaves, parents learn to use consequences that are effective, brief, and not physically or emotionally harmful to the child.

Skills Building Training

Skills building training involves working with the individual, family, or group to build skills that are necessary for good mental health. These trainings can be a part of any psychotherapy. 

Different types of skills building trainings include:

Biofeedback Training

A form of treatment that teaches a person how to decrease their anxiety and muscle tension (for example, headaches or pain) by using electronic feedback of hand temperature or muscle tension. The person learns how to deeply relax in a way that is easy to see, hear, and understand.

Coping Skills Training

This type of training is used to help children develop the skills needed for dealing with stressful situations. These skills help children to understand stressful situations, take appropriate actions, and be effective at solving problems.

Relaxation Skills Training

Relaxation skills are useful for everyone, but they have been found to be particularly helpful for people with anxiety. Relaxing includes both clearing the mind and calming the body. Some of the relaxation techniques that are most helpful for children include abdominal breathing, guided imagery, and progressive muscle relaxation.

Social Skills Training

This type of training is usually conducted either in group or individual psychotherapy. It focuses on developing a child’s social skills, such as skills needed for communication, decision-making, problem solving, and friendships. These are skills necessary for developing and maintaining positive social relationships with others.

Dealing with Stress

If you feel overwhelmed, it’s important to find different ways to cope with the stress of caring for a child with mental health issues. Try the following healthy ways to handle stress:

  • Exercise
  • Spend time with friends
  • Watch movies
  • Listen to music
  • Talk to other parents
  • Participate in support groups
  • Make time for yourself
  • Make time for fun
  • Learn how to relax

Family counseling can also help parents and siblings manage the stress that goes with having a child in the family who is struggling with mental health issues. Also, stress management techniques, including deep breathing and guided imagery, can be very helpful. Complementary therapies, such as mindful meditation, acupuncture, massage therapy, and Reiki, can also reduce stress.

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