CALM PARENTING: What is it?

The Calm Parenting Program is a method for helping parents to learn how to improve their child’s behavior. This type of approach has been widely recognized as an effective form of treatment for kids who are oppositional and argumentative with their parents (“Update on Empirically Validated Therapies, II” in The Clinical Psychologist, 1998, 51,1, “Identifying and Developing Empirically Supported Child and Adolescent Therapies” in Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1998, 66,1). Our Calm Parenting Program was pioneered by Dr. Kenneth F. Kaufman, a well-known Long Island psychologist who served as Director of Treatment Services for Sagamore Children’s Psychiatric Center and was founder and Director of the Institute for Behavioral Health. Dr. Kaufman has since retired, but he has trained us how to use his effective techniques and continues to serve as our mentor.   

The Calm Parenting Program can be administered to individual families or to groups of parents. Most of Dr. Kaufman’s pioneering work involved groups of parents, and consisted of 12 weekly sessions with homework tasks between sessions. For more information, please read Dr. Kaufman’s writings about his Calm Parenting Classes, by clicking here.

CALM PARENTING: Does it help?

Since 2001, 97% of parents who graduated from this 12-week group program reduced the severity of their child's behavior problems, improved their child's cooperation and decreased their own total stress. For more detailed information effectiveness, click here.

FEES:

When presented as a group, there is a $70 Group Session fee per parent (reduced to $100 for two if a couple attends each session) payable weekly at each of the 12 group sessions. Insurance may pay all or part of these fees. To join a group each parent must pay a $100 Attendance/Cooperation Deposit that is fully refundable if the entire program is completed. No deposit is required if the entire program is paid for up front at the start since you are guaranteeing your attendance.

When presented in an individualized manner to only one family, there is a $150 fee per session. No attendance deposit is required for individually administered services. This service is insurance reimbursable as outpatient mental health treatment. If the family has any insurance coverage for this type of treatment, then a portion of the fee may be paid by their insurance company. If we are a provider for your insurance company, then you will only pay a smaller co-payment for each session according to the benefits of your specific insurance plan. 

In either group or individualized format, there is a $25 materials Fee per family to pay for the "Parents Are Teachers" book and other program materials each family receives.