Early Childhood Mental Health Treatment: Training Reference Guide

Strategies
Effective Consultation
Step 6: Feedback Meeting Between Parent(s), Teacher And Consultant
The purpose of the meeting is for
The consultant to share observations and child’s strengths and needs.
The teacher to share observations and strategies tried or currently used.
The parent(s) to share their perceptions of the problem and strategies they are
using.
An Action Plan to be developed which may include ongoing classroom consultation;
counseling directly to the parents or referral to additional services.
Roadblock # 1:
Parent is in denial (my child doesn’t do that at home, it’s the centre’s problem).
Strategy:
Explain to the parent that your observations are based on seeing the child in a group
setting. Acknowledge that the child’s behaviour may be different at home than it is at
school. Be aware not to get into a power struggle with the parent.
Roadblock # 2:
During the feedback meeting, as the parent discloses stressful personal information, the
teacher reacts by saying “oh your child is really improving,” when in fact the consultant
has already identified that the child’s difficulties are serious and additional services will
be required to support the child. The teacher’s emotional reaction is an attempt to make
the mother feel better.
Strategy:
The consultant should prepare the teacher before the meeting, reviewing what might
occur.
In response to this situation during the meeting, the consultant must diplomatically, acknowledge
the improvement but stress the need for further services.
Step 7: Consultant And Teacher Meeting To Develop Strategies
The purpose of this meeting is to develop strategies that will support the child in the
classroom, i.e., using the child’s strengths to support his needs.
The consultee must retain ownership of the situation.
cont’d...
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