Abstract

SILVEIRA, Myrian Machado de Paula et al. WebParents: online parent counseling program focusing on homeschooling amidst the COVID-19 pandemics. Rev. bras.ter. cogn. [online]. 2021, vol.17, n.2, pp. 113-124. ISSN 1808-5687.  http://dx.doi.org/10.5935/1808-5687.20210024.

The COVID-19 pandemic increased parental burden on childrens homeschooling, making up an additional stressor. Preliminary results of an Internet-based psychoeducation and counseling program are described, aimed at enabling parents to manage their childrens homeschooling activities. 50 parents of children from 6 to 14 years old participated. The program comprised six 90-minute sessions, spread over three weeks, working with positive attention, differential reinforcement, routine organization, emotional regulation and flexibility of thoughts and feelings. A one-group only quasi-experimental pre- and post-test design was used. Results showed decreases in the levels of parental symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, assessed with DAS-21, as well as a reduction in the number of behavior problems and an increase in the childrens prosocial and adaptive behaviors, assessed with SDQ. No changes were observed in parenting styles, assessed with IEP. Parents answered a user satisfaction questionnaire and positively evaluated their participation in the program, considering that the benefits outweighed problems related to remote modality. Although more studies are needed, remote parent counseling during the COVID-19 pandemic has shown promise and can be incorporated into psychotherapeutic practices in other circumstances as well.

Keywords : Parents; Counseling; Internet-Based Intervention.

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