Objectives: Well-established links between child adjustment, parenting behaviour and parenting stress have been documented in the literature. The treatment of choice for children with conduct problems is Parent Management Training. One of the most well researched interventions is Webster-Stratton's BASIC programme based on video tape modelling. This includes a component aimed at encouraging more positive parent-child relationships through the use of child-directed play and targeted praise. It was hypothesised that using this component with the parents of children referred to child clinical psychology and psychiatry services would result in decreased parenting stress and that this effect would be mediated by improved positiveness towards the child. Design: A within groups design was used, assessing parents pre- and postintervention. Method: The parents of twenty referred children were recruited in to the study. Baseline self-report measures of parenting stress, child behaviour and Positiveness towards the child were completed. Participants were offered two sessions using Webster-Stratton's manualised programme as a guide for video tape modelling with discussion. Parents completed outcome measures following the intervention. Results: Positiveness to child was significantly improved in mothers but not in fathers. Changes in parenting stress and child adjustment were in the expected direction but not significant. Conclusions: The brief intervention demonstrated some efficacy in improving parent-child relationships. It was concluded that reduction in child behaviour problems might have more effect on parenting stress than positiveness to child. Methodological weaknesses and implications for future research are discussed.