Communicating Strategically with Parents to Avoid Complaints and Litigation

Abstract: Throughout their careers, school psychologists are involved in parent meetings that are difficult and at times adversarial.  There are strategies to minimize conflict within meetings.  Every school psychologist should be knowledgeable about these techniques, and have some degree of proficiency in implementation.  Strategies include effective communication, documentation, preparation, and facilitation; which will be discussed and the structured process of facilitating meetings will be described in depth.  Participants will have an opportunity to learn and practice advanced techniques to defuse and structure difficult and confrontational meetings. Dr. Sylvia Cohen and Dr. Shanna Sadeh from The Cohen Institute will present this valuable information.

Learning Objectives

1.    Participants will learn and practice effective communication strategies.

2.    Participants will learn a model of documentation for use at difficult meetings.

3.    Participants will learn a structured process for prepare for and facilitate meetings.

4.    Participants will learn and practice techniques to diffuse difficult and confrontational conversations.