Assessing and Treating Physically Abused Children and Their Families: A Cognitive-Behavioral Approach » (1st Edition)

Cynthia Cupit Swenson, Ph.D. is Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina. Her work primarily consists of research on community-based treatment for youth violence, child physical abuse, family violence, and community violence. Currently, via a grant funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, she is involved in examining treatment for adolescents and their families when physical abuse occurs.

Dr. Swenson is a frequently invited speaker around the United States and has written numerous publications in the field. At the national level, Dr. Swenson is a member of the Board of Directors of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (APSAC) where she serves on the Executive Council. Dr. Swenson also participates on a number of state Boards related to child maltreatment and youth drug court. In addition, she is involved with community service oriented Boards related to community development and youth West African Dance and Drumming. She received her M.S. in psychology from Northeast Louisiana University and her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from The Florida State University. 

A professional book aimed at practitioners and practitioners in training, this volume is the first attempt to provide a comprehensive, practical approach to the assessment and treatment of physically abused children. While there are other books that cover certain aspects of assessment and treatment, this book is comprehensive in that it covers child-specific, parent-specific, and family-specific interventions. The volume will present an overview of child physical abuse (including statistics and consequences), it will discuss outcome studies and treatment implications, and it will thoroughly discuss assessment and treatment. It will help practitioners:

• Understand children's abuse experiences, views, exposures to violence, and it will help expose thinking errors or negative attributions. It will also help the practitioner help the children with anxiety management, anger management, social skills, and safety plans.
• Help parents with child management and development, expectations and cognitive distortions, behavior management, and discipline.
• Facilitate family communication and problem solving. 

Booknews

This guide for practitioners and students provides a comprehensive approach to the assessment and treatment of children who have been physically maltreated, and their families. It includes an overview of physical abuse, presenting statistics and examining the consequences of abuse. Outcome studies, treatment implications, and assessment and treatment techniques are also discussed. Case studies illustrate crucial points. Handouts and worksheets are included. Kolko teaches psychiatry, psychology, and pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Swenson teaches psychiatry and behavioral science at the Medical University of South Carolina. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Acknowledgments

1. Introduction and Overview

2. Characteristics and Correlates of Child Physical Abuse

3. Treatment Outcome Studies: Clinical and Research Implications

4. Comprehensive Assessment of Child Physical Abuse

5. The Comprehensive Individual and Family Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment Model

6. Initial Treatment Considerations

7. Treatment of the Child: Understanding the Child's Experiences and Behavior

8. Treatment of the Child: Cognitive Interventions

9. Child Treatment: Affect-Focused Interventions

10. Promoting Children's Effective Coping and Social Competence

11. Adult Treatment: Cognitive Interventions

12. Treatment of the Maltreating Adult: Affect-Focused Interventions

13. Treatment of the Maltreating Adult: Behavior Management

14. From Individual to Family Treatment: Bridging Through

15. Family Treatment: Setting the Foundation

16. Family Treatment: Skills Training and Applications

17. Community and Social Systems Involvement

18. Case Examples and Applications

19. Conclusions

Index

About the Authors