Behavioral therapies can be seductive, especially to parents who want a quick fix for a difficult child. The danger of behavioral therapy, however, lies in its failure to recognize the importance of the mind, even in a young child. Granted, a five-year-old mind is a rather unsophisticated one. But it doesn’t change the fact that a child has the capacity to reason. To emphasize reward and punishment in the absence of attempting to reason with the child on his or her own level is to ignore a critical aspect of human psychology. It sends the message, however unintentionally, that rules and authority are all that matter in life. Independent thought and logic are downplayed or even condemned.
— from Dr. Michael Hurd’s forthcoming book, “Bad Therapy Good Therapy: And How to Tell the Difference” (a re-release of his previous book, “Effective Therapy” with expanded, new sections)