The Four Cs of Parenting

Abstract

Parenting is a challenge that faces every culture, creed, and nation. It carries a variety of assumptions, values, and perspectives that indicate how proper parenting should look. Much has been written with the hope of supporting positive parenting within the counseling and psychology literature, but putting these concepts into practice can prove challenging from the counseling office. This article explores common counseling concepts that promote healthy parenting through a careful review of the counseling literature regarding current practices and perspectives that exist internationally across countries, cultures, and families. Key findings in the literature highlight the significance of parenting styles, balanced agendas, autonomy, awareness, and cultural values. Understanding these concepts remains important for counselors to remain competent in supporting families, parents, and children on an international level. Out of these findings, counselors are presented with a simple, practical format for parents to enhance parenting experiences: the four Cs. Further detail about the four Cs outlines the significance of how parents can support children with a foundation of care, consistency, choices, and consequences and how they can be practiced in the counseling office. Suggestions for ongoing studies also provide future pathways for evaluating the four Cs in future practice.