“Before Parent Management Training, every day felt like a power struggle. Now I know how to respond calmly and confidently, and my child’s behavior has completely changed. We’re finally in a good place.”—Katie, 2024 PMT Participant
If you’re a parent of a child with behavioral challenges, these words might feel impossible. But they’re not. When defiant behavior starts to feel like the norm, it’s easy to fear things will only get worse. Parent Management Training gives you the tools to prevent bigger problems—and restore a sense of calm, control, and confidence at home.
What Is Parent Management Training?
Originally developed at the Yale Parenting Center, PMT is especially effective for parents with children diagnosed with ADHD, oppositional behavior, and other social-emotional challenges. The program follows a clear, step-by-step process over the course of eight weekly sessions. Each week builds on the last, giving you practical skills you can implement right away to reduce disruptive behavior and build positive habits with your child.
Studies show that PMT can reduce oppositional and defiant behavior by 30–50%¹, often with long-lasting results. It’s recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics as a first-line treatment for young children with ADHD.²
How Does PMT Work?
Over the course of our weekly group sessions, you’ll learn specific, research-backed strategies to:
- Encourage cooperation
- Decrease defiance and aggression
- Respond to misbehavior calmly and consistently
- Build a stronger, more positive relationship with your child
Each week focuses on a different skill, with plenty of real-life examples, group discussion, and troubleshooting.
What Does a PMT Session Actually Look Like?
One of the first sessions in PMT focuses on using positive opposites—a small but powerful technique that can dramatically change the way your child responds. The idea is simple: the behaviors you pay attention to are the ones that increase.
Your group leader will start by teaching you what a positive opposite is and how to apply this concept at home. Instead of saying “No,” “Don’t,” or “Stop,” you’ll learn to focus on the behavior you want to see.
For example:
- Instead of “Don’t run in the house,” try “Walk inside, please,” or “Go run outside.”
- Instead of “Stop yelling,” try “Use a calm voice.”
The group will review examples like these, and you’ll have opportunities to practice or role-play with other parents. You’re encouraged to bring in real-life challenges from home so you can problem-solve together using the week’s technique.
Each session ends with a homework assignment to practice at home. When you return the following week, there’s time to ask questions, share wins, and troubleshoot what didn’t go as planned.
Over time, using these techniques consistently helps increase cooperative behavior, strengthen your child’s self-concept, and improve your parent–child relationship.
What to Expect in the Fall 2025 PMT Group
Our upcoming Parent Management Training group is open to parents and caregivers of children ages 6–10. The course meets online for eight weekly sessions, giving you a chance to connect from home and apply the tools in real-time.
Fall 2025 PMT Group
📅 September 26 – November 14
🕒 Fridays, 11:45am – 1:00pm (PT)
📍 Live on Zoom
Led by Sheri Beasley, LCSW, and Denise Berumen, LMFT, our team brings years of experience helping families find calm, consistency, and connection—even in the face of big behavior challenges.
You Don’t Have to Figure This Out Alone
If parenting feels harder than it should—and nothing seems to work—Parent Management Training can help. It’s not about being a perfect parent. It’s about learning strategies that are grounded in research and adapted to your real-life challenges so that you can be a more confident and consistent parent.
You’ll walk away with more confidence, less stress, and a toolkit that works long after the group ends.
Reach out today to learn more or sign up for the Fall PMT group.
References
- Kazdin, Alan E. Parent Management Training: Treatment for Oppositional, Aggressive, and Antisocial Behavior in Children and Adolescents. Oxford University Press, 2005.
- American Academy of Pediatrics. “ADHD: Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children and Adolescents.” Pediatrics, vol. 128, no. 5, 2011, pp. 1007 – 1022.
