Molar labeling interventions: Two case studies

The efficacy of molar labeling interventions, a novel cognitive-behavioral approach to the treatment of emotionally disturbed children, was investigated in two case studies. In Study I, supervised paraprofessional childcare workers employed the experimental intervention in a short-term residential treatment center. In Study II, parents were taught to employ the experimental treatment to alter the within-home behavior of their child. Both studies evidenced rapid treatment effects on multiple target behaviors and generalization to non-target responses. In Study II, there was some evidence of 4-month maintenance of treatment effects as well as generalization to extra-therapeutic settings. In sum, these initial investigations provided promising, though preliminary, demonstrations of treatment efficacy.