Changing problematic parent–child interaction in child anxiety disorders: The promise of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

•We review the literature on parenting in child anxiety disorders and on parenting interventions that have been used in the treatment of child anxiety•We note the limitations of the parent intervention literature in child anxiety and present the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) treatment model as a potentially helpful model in addressing these limitations•We review the current literature on ACT for parenting and for child anxiety•We review how ACT concepts apply to changing problematic parenting behaviors in families of anxious children.

Anxiety disorders present a significant concern for children, affecting up to 20% of those under 12 years old. The importance of parenting behavior in the development and maintenance of childhood anxiety disorders has been established both theoretically and empirically. We review the literature on cognitive-behavioral parenting interventions aimed at reducing child anxiety and discuss the limitations of this approach and of the research to date. We then present Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as a treatment model that holds promise for shifting problematic parent–child interactions, and we review the relevant theoretical and empirical literature supporting this promise.