Parenting with Love and Limits®

This is a family and group therapy program for adolescents aged 10 to 18 who have been diagnosed with oppositional defiant disorder and/or conduct disorders.
The program consists of six group sessions conducted by a therapist and a facilitator to increase awareness and to learn parenting skills through discussions, psychoeducational videos and roleplaying techniques, and six family sessions conducted in the home to evaluate how the skills learned in the group are applied in real life. In the most severe cases, when the family is involved in criminal justice measures, youth receive up to 20 individual family sessions.

Impact evaluations

An impact evaluation showed a statistically significant decrease in recidivism rates, as well as behavioral improvements. However, there were no significant differences with respect to indicators of motivation to change [1] [2] [3]. Significant decreases in long-term internalizing and externalizing behavior problems were also identified [4].

Bibliographic reference

[1] Sells, S. P., Winokur Early, K. & Smith, T. E. (2011). Reducing Adolescent Oppositional and Conduct Disorders: An Experimental Design Using the Parenting with Love and Limits® Model. Professional Issues in Criminal Justice, 6(3-4), 9–30. http://35.192.68.109/documents/PICJarticle.pdf

[2] Winokur Early, K., Chapman, S. F. & Hand, G. A. (2013). Family-Focused Juvenile Reentry Services: A Quasi-Experimental Design Evaluation of Recidivism Outcomes. OJJDP Journal of Juvenile Justice, 2(2), 1–22. https://www.proquest.com/docview/1681541116

[3] Karam, E. A., Sterrett, E. M., & Kiaer, L. (2017). The integration of family and group therapy as an alternative to juvenile incarceration: A quasi-experimental evaluation using Parenting with Love and Limits. Family Process, 56(2), 331-347. doi:10.1111/famp.12187.

[4] Sterrett-Hong, E. M., Karam, E. & Kiaer, L. (2017). Statewide Implementation of Parenting with Love and Limits Among Youth with Co-Existing Internalizing and Externalizing Functional Impairments Reduces Return to Service Rates and Treatment Costs. Administration and Policy in Mental Health, 44(5), 792–809. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-016-0788-4

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