Child Parent Relationship Therapy: Reunification with Children and Parents with Substance Use Disorders

Abstract

ABSTRACT Exposure to parental substance use disorder (SUD) has significant and lasting effects on the development of children emotionally, physically, within the educational environment, as well as within the parent-child relationship. The separation of parent and child within families with SUDs is commonplace as child protective services involve due to the increased frequency of child abuse, neglect, and criminal activity. To date, no specific reunification approach for working with parents with SUDs has been identified or suggested. Given that child parent relationship therapy (CPRT) centers on enhancing secure attachment between parents and children and promoting parents’ understanding of the needs of their children, the authors discussed CPRT as an innovative intervention with parents with SUDs to reestablish or establish a healthy connection with their children. A brief clinical case example was given followed by implications for clinicians.