Welcome to the next generation of our program. We might have changed our name but the principles that guide our program are the same principles that have transformed the lives of families over three generations. Since 1957, the "Saturday Circus" parent education program, first at the University of Oregon and then at Lane Community College, has helped thousands of people dramatically improve their
family life with a practical and humane approach to parenting. The program was founded in 1957 by Rudolph Dreikurs with the aim of teaching people who work with children methods of influence that give children a meaningful, purposeful role. These methods of influence are supported by research on effective parenting. At the same time, those of us who want to influence children often fail to employ effective practices, even when we “know better.” With all of our knowledge about effective methods and good intentions, we can react unhelpfully when faced with unwanted child behavior. That’s where Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) comes in. ACT uses acceptance and mindfulness strategies, together with commitment and behavior change strategies, to increase our capacity to respond with flexibility when faced with conflict. Rather than reacting in stressful situations, parents and professionals learn methods that prevent unhelpful reactive behaviors and behave in ways that move them in the direction of what they value in their relationships with children. People in the program tell us that this melding of past and present has helped them reduce stress, strengthen their relationships with adults and children, increase family cooperation and fun, and create family lives that are guided by what they value most.
