Parents, Children Garner Best Results when Patience, Rather than Frustration, Guides Education Efforts

By William Strong, Denver Therapist

Parents often find it difficult to navigate the boundaries between leniency and firmness when dealing with their children. While they want to communicate such feelings as disappointment or disapproval, many parents err by allowing themselves to express these emotions in tones of anger or hostility. Rather than educating their children so that they can handle new issues as they arise, aggression and intimidation sometimes make children less likely to address problems than to try to hide them.

Successful discipline gives children the tools to objectively process emotions in the midst of daily and extraordinary situations so that they can make rational, thoughtful choices about appropriate action and reaction. By validating children’s feelings such as rage, exasperation, and sadness, parents acknowledge that these emotions are understandable. Confirmation of the normalcy of their reactions also teaches children to be compassionate and empathetic to others who might experience similar strong feelings.

While anger safeguards people from vulnerability caused by such primary emotions as humiliation and pain, giving in to anger time after time may become a conscious demonstration of power. As challenging as it may be for parents not to give in to their anger, they serve as a model for children by refraining from shouting, put-downs, and other antagonistic behavior. Although one’s initial reaction may be to vent feelings, patience ultimately offers a more fruitful environment for the development of a child’s character.

About the author: Denver therapist William Strong treats children, adolescents, adults, and families. With more than 20 years of experience, he employs innovative methods and a thoughtful approach to helping people cope with the difficulties of life. In addition to his practice, he donates time and therapeutic services for local schools, United Way, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Colorado, and other charities.

Combining Solution Focused Therapy with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

By William Strong

An accomplished therapist and social worker in Denver, Colorado, William Strong regularly applies Solution Focused Therapy to adult clients, as well as families, couples, and children in need of counseling. Both well-established therapy techniques, Solution Focused Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy share certain basic similarities. Broadly speaking, both forms of therapy focus on helping the client identify and cultivate solutions while decreasing the emphasis on negative aspects of the client’s life. By combining aspects of both therapies, a powerful tool is created to help clients achieve their goals.

A form of talk therapy, Solution Focused Therapy emphasizes the importance of the present and the future as opposed to dwelling on problems of the past. This basic emphasis encourages clients to focus on creating and achieving new life goals. When the client achieves a healthy direction to pursue, the therapist supports the client in new pursuits. For instance, the therapist may offer practical guidance in developing more supportive social networks. Important life changes that can be achieved through effective Solution Focused Therapy include higher self-confidence and stronger relationships.

A basic challenge with Solution Focused Therapy is that people naturally tend to focus on past problems. Therapists applying Solution Focused Therapy may find it difficult to keep clients focused on the present and future solutions. However, with the addition of a Cognitive Behavioral Approach, this difficulty can be overcome. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy directly facilitates changes in the distorted, negative thinking patterns that may lead to a preoccupation with past problems. Through effective application of both therapies, clients can learn to focus on the positive elements of their life while gaining the new confidence to achieve their life goals.

William Strong on American Whitewater

Professionally active as a therapist in Denver, William Strong serves as a committed member of American Whitewater. 

A nonprofit organization founded in 1954, American Whitewater actively engages in nationwide efforts to restore and conserve whitewater resources in the United States. The organization exists as the principal advocate for protecting America’s whitewater systems. Over the course of its history, American Whitewater has contributed to many notable conservation accomplishments, such as successfully working to remove more than a dozen river dams. Current efforts continue to remove several more dams located in the western states. The American Whitewater’s National Stewardship Director coordinates the conservation, education, activism, and river safety efforts of the organization’s members and volunteers. 

American Whitewater is also recognized as an original member of the Hydropower Reform Coalition and the Outdoor Alliance. After more than 50 years in operation, American Whitewater remains true to the important objectives it was founded upon. 

American Whitewater currently maintains a diverse membership, including more than 100 paddling club affiliates. Each year, the organization collects dues from more than 5,000 individual members. Beyond conservation, American Whitewater and its members actively promote river safety for all whitewater sports. Further information regarding the organization can be found online at AmericanWhitewater.org.