The effects of child teacher relationship training on the children of focus: A pilot study

Abstract

Head Start teachers (n = 24) were assigned to either the experimental group or the active control group in this pilot study to determine the effects of child-teacher relationship training (CTRT) on 22 disadvantaged preschool children identified with behavioral problems. CTRT is based on the principles and procedures of child-parent relationship therapy (CPRT; Landreth & Bratton, 2006), a structured, time-limited approach that trains young children's caregivers to be active participants in an early mental health delivery system. Results indicate that children whose teachers participated in CTRT made statistically significant improvements in both externalizing behavior problems and total problems when compared with the active control group. Children in the CTRT group demonstrated a large treatment effect on their internalizing behavior problems compared with those in the active control group. The statistical, practical, and clinically significant results of this pilot study indicate that CTRT is a promising option for preschool children with clinically significant behavior problems. © 2011 Association for Play Therapy.