Coping Power Program

Background and General Description

Coping Power is a well-established social-cognitive intervention program developed by Dr. John Lochman and colleagues. The program is empirically supported and has undergone much evaluation describing its effectiveness in reducing disruptive childhood behaviour (Lochman & Lenhart, 1993; Lochman & Wells, 2003, 2004). In addition to its effectiveness, the program has numerous strengths. First, Coping Power targets development of children’s social-cognitive and social problem-solving skills based on research evidence showing how these factors contribute to disruptive child behaviour. This cognitive focus is tremendously important given social-cognitive biases and associated social difficulties demonstrated by children with disruptive behaviour. Second, the program is manualized with clear guidelines for instruction and workbooks to support program fidelity. A program manual describes treatment procedures in a clear and organized manner; increasing the likelihood of implementation in hospital settings. Third, the training process for instructors is clearly outlined, further ensuring efficient and reliable program implementation. Fourth, the program has complimentary child and parent groups. Finally, Coping Power has been successfully implemented in mental health and educational centres in Ontario and abroad.

Child Group

The child group is for participant’s ages 9 – 12 years and focuses on remediation of biased cognition by developing children’s cognitive problem-solving abilities and social competencies. The program addresses disruptive behaviour by directly challenging disruptive children’s hostile attributions and replacing these with socially acceptable problem-solving skills. The modified clinic-based program is 15-sessions involving the following session content.

Session 1: Establish Structure of the Program and Behavioral Goal Setting Procedure
Session 2: Setting Long-Term and Short-Term Personal Goals
Session 3: Organizational and Study Skills
Session 4: Awareness of Feelings and Physiological Arousal Related to Anger: Part I
Session 5: Awareness of Feelings and Physiological Arousal Related to Anger: Part II
Session 6: Practice Anger Coping and Self-Control
Session 7: Practice Using Coping Self-Statements for Anger Coping: Part I
Session 8: Practice Using Coping Self-Statements for Anger Coping: Part II
Session 9: Introduction to Problem Solving
Session 10: Social Problem Solving: PartI
Session 11: Social Problem Solving: Part II
Session 12: Social Problem Solving: Part III
Session 13: Create PICC (Problem Identification Choice Consequence) Videotape: Part I
Session 14: Create PICC Videotape: Part II
Session 15: Review of the Program and Celebration

Caregiver Group

The Caregiver group develops parenting skills and competencies to help manage and prevent disruptive childhood behaviour. The group emphasizes cognitive and behavioural parenting skills and ultimately helps parents develop an integrated problem solving approach to behavioural management. The modified clinic-based program is 15-sessions and involves the following content.

Session 1: Welcome and Goal Setting
Session 2: Academic Support in the Home
Session 3: Managing Your Stress – Part I
Session 4: Managing Your Stress – Part II
Session 5: Basic Social Learning Theory and Improving Parent-Child Relationship
Session 6: Ignoring Minor Disruptive Behaviour
Session 7: Giving Your Child Good Instructions
Session 8: Establishing Rules and Expectations
Session 9: Discipline and Punishment – Part I
Session 10: Discipline and Punishment – Part II
Session 11: Building Family Cohesion
Session 12: Family Problem Solving – Part I
Session 13: Family Problem Solving – Part II
Session 14: Family Communication
Session 15: End of the Coping Power Program and Celebration

References

Lochman, J. E., & Lenhart, L. A. (1993). Anger Coping Intervention for Aggressive Children: Conceptual Models and Outcome Effects. Clinical Psychology Review, 13, 785-805.

Lochman, J. E., & Wells, K. C. (2003). Effectiveness of the Coping Power Program and of Classroom Intervention With Aggressive Children: Outcomes at a 1-Year Follow-Up. Behavior Therapy, 34, 493-515.

Lochman, J. E., & Wells, K. C. (2004). The Coping Power Program for Preadolescent Aggressive Boys and Their Parents: Outcome Effects at the 1-Year Follow-Up. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 72(4), 571-578.

Coping Power Program

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