The ABC model

By Henry Charles, Project Manager 

As you may or may not know,  CFF was established in 1990. Over the years, CFF have not only worked directly with Young People, but also offered parallel services to their parents/carers. From the original long standing ‘Living with Teenagers’ groups to the more recent anxiety sessions,  the ‘ABC model’ has remained a core concept used within all of the parenting groups.

​The ABC model is unique to CFF and is based upon Social Learning Theory. This practical reflective model/tool enables parents to break down one-off behaviour incidents that may occur whilst their young person is with them, in order to understand what's happening. The model helps parents/carers to clearly identify the behaviour (B), (usually challenging or demanding) and then for them to explore what came before (Triggers (A)) and after (Consequences (C)); which are maintaining the behaviours.
 
The ABC model has proven to be effective not only with assisting parents to explore when a young person is behaving in a confrontational way, but also when there are mental health or anxiety difficulties for a young person.

Once the ABC aspects have been identified, parents can then begin to look at where they can make positive changes (remove blocks). As a parent moves forward through CFF's groupwork programme they also have the opportunity to consider how they can use this model further to identify/refocus on how they can promote the increase of ‘wanted behaviours' in their young person. You can see the ABC model brought to life in this video:

So that's the model - but what do parents think? Parents frequently share positive feedback about the ABC model and are keen to use it at home in their parenting role, to begin to identify ways they can promote reductions in their young person’s unwanted behaviours and increase their wanted ones.

Need help with your young person's behaviour or mental health and wellbeing? Take a look at our programmes here.