Got An Angry Kid? Parenting Spike: A Seriously Difficult Child (Paperback)

~ Andrew D. Gibson (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Does your family live in conflict?

Does your child have a psychiatric label (such as ADHD, oppositional defiance, conduct disorder, bi-polar disorder) or the behavior that would get him/her one?

Have you lost (or nearly lost) control of your child?

If you answered YES to any of these three things, then PACT can help you as it has helped thousands of other families restore love and integrity to their relationships!

What Others Say About Got An Angry Kid? and The PACT Training Program

"The family is much calmer. Taking PACT Training was the best decision I ever made. It's the best hard work I've ever done. PACT was the light at the end of the tunnel for us."
--Ms. K. D., Willimantic, CT, Mom and Dad of an adolescent girl placed in foster care

"From my professional experience as a manager in the field, PACT is one of the very few services which has been held in high regard by our professional staff as well as the families which benefitted from Dr. Gibson's excellent program."
--Ms. Helen Lawrence (retired) Connecticut State Department of Children and Families (CTSDCF)

"I have had to fight for every service for my family. PACT is my best chance to [create] change. Thanks for everything."
--Ms. K.M., Vernon, CT, single Mom of an out-of-control son

"Although I was only a few weeks into PACT, I felt myself becoming calmer, more hopeful, and more in control. PACT is putting life into my parenting and does what three years of residential placement didn't."
--Mrs D.W., Hamden, CT, single Mom of a seriously emotionally disturbed boy

"Again, I can't say enough about how this program has changed my life."
--Mr. L.C., New Milford, CT, single parent of a foster child

"PACT and Got An Angry Kid? is brilliant."
--Parenting consultant

About the Author

Dr. Gibson earned his PhD in Education at the University of Connecticut in 1987 under the tutelage of Richard Bloomer. He poured everything about his childhood and his experience as a parent went into what became Parenting Angry Children and Teens (PACT) Training and the book, "Got An Angry Kid?" In 1993, the Connecticut State Department of Children and Families adopted the PACT methodology and since then 500 families have completed the year-long program with remarkable results.
For more information, visit www.DrAGibson.com

From Loving Healing Press www.LovingHealing.com

Family & Relationships: Parenting - Child Rearing

Product Details

• Paperback: 188 pages
• Publisher: Loving Healing Press (May 11, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932690891
• ISBN-13: 978-1932690897
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,407,581 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Lifeline for Parents of Impossible Kids, July 1, 2009

By	Virginia M. Fulton "Professional Counselor" (Connecticut) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is a lifeline to families where a "seemingly incorrigible" child has the household in a tailspin. Here is a book that lays out, clearly and concisely a step-by-step program for the parent(s)so that they can start to do things that work, to scrap the stuff that doesn't work and to create real change. This program is consistent with tried-and-true family systems theory - when one or two members of a group change, the whole system, even Spike (the book's prototype of everyone's nightmare child) HAS to change as well.
Dr. Andrew Gibson has a way with words and writes with the sort of humor that keeps your attention. But the book is no joke. Gibson takes desperate parents by the hand and supports them through a straight-forward process of serious change. There is no blame here, either at parent or child, just the here-and-now work of making things better.
The book is for parents. It is also for counselors, clergy, and anyone who works with families of difficult kids. Every probation officer, school psychologist, guidance counselor and the like should have piles of this book in their offices, ready to hand out to parents of kids whose behaviors get them into trouble.
"Got an Angry Kid?" grew out of work that Dr. Gibson has done for well over 20 years with parents of kids who were, as he calls it, "seriously difficult." I'm delighted that it is now available to all of us as a book.
If you know an angry kid, buy this book!
Virginia M. Fulton, MA, LPC

5.0 out of 5 stars Learn effective parenting skills to help deal with an angry child, May 26, 2009

By	Reader Views "www.readerviews.com" (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews

Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (5/09)

The first reaction that I felt after reading "Got An Angry Kid?" was "Wow!" This book teaches parents how to effectively regain control of their family when dealing with a child or teen that is angry and disruptive. Changing how a parent interacts with their child is a key to success. The book is written very concisely and organized in a manner that will make it easy for parents to follow, in spite of there being many steps in the process. There are also appendices that contain charts for parents to track their goals and their children's goals.

Initially, the book helps parents identify behaviors that their child or children are exhibiting that need to be dealt with. When the author wrote this book, he based much of it on his own personal childhood and parenting experiences. Then throughout the book he uses the story of Spike as his main example of how to apply the principles. He also uses other case examples of families from a variety of backgrounds who are dealing with angry children. This variety of examples and experiences will help parents relate them to what is happening in their own lives.

The program to be followed is referred to as PACT. It stands for Parenting Angry Children and Teens. PACT is a self-help program designed for parents dealing with angry children. It consists of a total of 28 goals that take about eight weeks for changes to begin and a year for the program to be completed. Parents are to apply goals to every aspect of their lives. The first three goals are very basic. The next twenty-five goals are advanced. Parents are not to progress to the next goal until they succeed with the previous one. They can use the charts provided for recording their progress.

I think that every parent who has an angry and disruptive child will benefit from following this program. For some, it won't be easy because they are going to have to take a close look at how they are currently interacting with their children and recognize their own dysfunctional behavior. For some people, they might see that the pattern of dysfunctional behaviors has been passed down from generation to generation. Perhaps in addition to improving their relationship with their child, they will also be able to improve other relationships in their lives. I highly recommend "Got An Angry Child" by Andrew D. Gibson, PhD, to parents, grandparents and counselors who work with children.