Military people are bound to offer their life to the service of the nation. However, there can be a lot of problems in their personal life due to the same reason. The utilization of the parent child relationship assists in the emotional well-being and foundational growth of the child their ability to cope in different scenarios and problem solving abilities (Understanding Family Engagement Outcomes: Research to Practice Series, 2016). The aim of this paper is to discuss the outcomes associated with the army personals’ children’s emotional and psychological interactions development and the problems associated with it.
Statistics show that around 2 million people are close relatives of over 1.4 million active army personnel. Around 1.2 million people of these close family members are teenagers and adolescents between 0 to 18 years of age. More than 75% of the kids are under the age of 12. Studies also show that relationship between children and parents are affected by various army postings in distant places especially for the Freedom of Iraq’s operation. As the military action continues ten years after the commencement of the missions, there is a high rate of behavioral issues that are detrimental and this include, emotional breakdowns and poor academic performance among children of Army personnel deployed at far off places. When one of the parents is used at far off places, the needs for psychological health care services for their children are on the rise. (Gurwitch, et al. 2013). The welfare of families is hugely effected by deployment of personnel to far off areas. This pattern of mobility causes disruption in the mental well-being of children. The developmental stages of the child is a crucial factor that affects the child. During the deployment cycle discussions should be instigate to get the role changes in the family and the utilization of parent child relationships so as to create a strong rapport between the parent and the child (McFarlan 2009).
In this complicated situation, the value of parent-child interaction therapy is critical. The strategies of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) are based on a robust evidence-centered methodology developed by Dr. Sheila Eyberg to be used for the betterment of behavioral issues among young children of the age group of 2 to 7. The extensive use of PCIT is now actually used for supporting children from military families. PCIT is an evaluation-based involvement in helping children and is a distinct type of management training and therapy for parents as PCIT focuses on direct coaching processes that involve the active participation of both the parent and the children. (Gurwitch, et al. 2013)
PCIT includes two phases of healing. The steps include training sessions in which both the parents and the child are participants. It is a requirement that the parents gain new skill sets before they begin therapy sessions. Hence, PCIT is an efficient and secure treatment option for kids who hail from military families. The first phase of the treatment often includes Child Directed Interaction. This phase gives importance to the development and improvement of positive relationships between the parent and the child. The phase also focuses on reducing traumas and related fears in the mind of children. Once the initial phase is completed in accordance to set objectives, the participants move to the second stage, which is the parent-directed interaction. This phase concentrates on increasing predictability and consistency while equipping the parents with adaptive follow through strategies. The phase teaches parents to adopt an effective discipline strategy. Focus is also provided to help enhance commanding power, set proper limits for their children, and to adopt an effective problem-solving strategy. (Gurwitch et al. 2013)
The processes which are predominantly clinic-based simulations are then implemented in real life to better their understanding and related experiences. Frequently, families’ require 12 to 15 sessions to complete both phases. PCIT is commonly used to resolve family issues in post-traumatic conditions. Another advantage of PCIT is that efficient use of PCIT strategies will aid in better parenting thus solidifying relationships between married partners. Additionally, the relationship of parents with their children and their emotional attachment is further enhanced. Parent-child interaction therapy is the most efficient healing strategy in military families as the trauma caused by the unavailability of a parent for a long term period might otherwise affect the emotional stability of the child. PCIT is an effective strategy that streamlines the child’s focus on much more creative aspects and to empower and reassures the child about a healthy family atmosphere.
References.
Gurwitch, R. H., Fernandez, S., Pearl, E., & Chung, G. (2013). Utilizing parent–child interaction therapy to help improve the outcome of military families. Children, Youth and Families Newsletter.
"Military Children And Families." Apa.org. N.p., 2016. Web. 26 Apr. 2016.
McFarlane, A. C. (2009). Military deployment: the impact on children and family adjustment and the need for care. Current Opinion in Psychiatry,22(4), 369-373.
Understanding Family Engagement Outcomes: Research to Practice Series. (2016). Retrieved 27 April 2016, from http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/tta-system/family/docs/parent-child-relationships.pdf
