Working with Certified Working with Certified CouplesCouples

Consultant TrainingConsultant Training

IntroductionIntroduction

• ““Whaddya mean I can’t just tell’em what to do?”Whaddya mean I can’t just tell’em what to do?”• New couples need direct feedback, clear New couples need direct feedback, clear

recommendations and encouragement.recommendations and encouragement.• ““What you are going to want to do is…”What you are going to want to do is…”• We want to move couples to professional We want to move couples to professional

independenceindependence• Maintain professional independenceMaintain professional independence

New CouplesNew Couples

• Explain what their home should look like• Strongly recommend rules and expectations i.e.

“You’re going to want to…”• First month of service delivery should have in-

home each week and OPR at end of month with consultation each week

• Be on the phone while they do non-responsive and intensive teaching with youth

New CouplesNew Couples

• Need time in consultation and on the phone to discuss youth and program

• Highly directive feedback• “Step by step answers”• Stay on phone or call back repeatedly until

situation is resolved• They are learning the Teaching-family Model

and correct implementation

Post Major and Certified CouplesPost Major and Certified Couples

• Less directive feedback• “I think …, what do you think?”• You make a suggestion and then discuss it with

the couple• Regular service delivery with additional services

as necessary, ask couple• Move couple towards professional

independence

Post Major and Certified CouplesPost Major and Certified Couples

• Begin to suggest concepts and allow couples to fill in blanks

• “I think we need to make sure he is deprived, how can that be done?”

• Ask for feedback on write-ups and in-home observations and generally

• Ask “What are you thinking?”

Multiple CertificationsMultiple Certifications

• Provide an outside perspective • “Can’t see the forest for the trees”• Be aware of drift and couples wanting to

“punish” their youth• Burnout• Exceptions to rules• After explanation of problem, “So what is your

plan or what are you thinking?”

Multiple CertificationsMultiple Certifications

• Ask for feedback, “So what do you need?”• Be available for discussion, concerns• When they are ready to have a youth moved,

you are less directive than with a new couple• Staff cases and situations keeping in mind the

experience the couple has in working with youth

Multiple CertificationsMultiple Certifications

• One way to look at it is that you are staffing a case with another professional

• Continue to praise and give feedback in the form of “criticism by suggestion”

• Serious issues still require direct feedback and possibly written feedback

• Encourage professional development in doing training and evaluations

ConclusionConclusion

• We need to move couples toward independence• Couples with multiple certifications should

treated as professionals understanding that one role of consultants is to provide a different perspective

Working with Certified Working with Certified CouplesCouples

Consultant TrainingConsultant Training

This training presentation is available for download at:This training presentation is available for download at:www.utahparenting.orgwww.utahparenting.org

© 2007 Utah Youth Village.© 2007 Utah Youth Village.