A Truce in the “War for the Child”

Abstract

The war for the child has been waged by the proponents of behavior modification and feeling oriented therapy. Neither ideological camp has emerged victorious with the answer for all children with emotional and behavior problems. The complex needs of these children require professionals to call a truce in this war and to seek ways of combining behavior modification and psychodynamic interventions. Examples of this blending of approaches indicate that the children served by only one treatment modality are being denied the comprehensive treatment they need. Moving beyond the truce will require increased sharing and cooperation between programs, continued research, eclectic training for professionals, and the inclusion of other interventions into a comprehensive treatment program.