The use of child-based consultation : changing problematic behaviors in children and altering interactions with teachers in the classroom environment

Child-based consultation is an innovative problem-solving consultative model. Essentially, child-based consultation is a process wherein the child is given the role of the consultee to induce a behavioral change in a significant adult (Bergan & Kratochwill, 1990; Kratochwill & Pittman, 2002; Kratochwill, Sladeczek, & Plunge, 1995). The present study was an exploratory investigation to evaluate the efficacy of child-based consultation as an alternative form of problem-solving consultation in the school setting. In the present study, child-based consultation was used to promote behavioral changes in teachers in the classroom environment. In addition, child consultees, manifesting behavioral difficulties, were engaged in this consultative process in order to learn new, individualized skills and strategies to alter their own problematic behaviors. The resulting behavioral changes in four child consultees, and their teachers, were investigated. Specifically, the study measured whether child involvement in child-based consultation increased the teacher's use of positive reinforcement and decreased the teacher's use of punishment with each child consultee. The study also sought to ascertain the impact of the child-based consultative process on the child consultee's problem behaviors targeted for change. Additionally, the teacher's sense of efficacy was measured to evaluate if the use of this form of consultation with children manifesting behavioral difficulties would lead to a heightened sense of teacher efficacy. Finally, the present study evaluated if being involved in child-based consultation would lead to a more adaptive self-concept in the child consultees. Time-series, small- n research designs (i.e., AB, multiple baseline, changing criterions designs) were used to analyze study outcomes. Results indicated that certain teacher behaviors were positively altered from baseline to post-intervention. Generally, positive changes in child consult