Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) has been proven by numerous studies to be an effective therapy with children and families. Through Parent-Child Interaction Therapy children experience a significant reduction in oppositional behavior and the relationship between caregivers and child is enhanced. Often children who previously met criteria for a diagnosis of ODD Oppositional Defiant Disorder no longer meet criteria for this diagnosis following treatment.

HOW DOES PCIT HELP?

• Building positive parent-child interactions,

• Developing positive child-rearing strategies

• Reducing the likelihood of child physical and verbal abuse 

• Reducing child behavior issues (anger, aggression, defiance, etc.)

• Increasing communication and interaction skills within the family

• not listening and minding parents/defiance

• tantrums/"melt downs"

• overly aggressive behavior such as biting, kicking, or hitting care givers or other children

• family conflict

• attention problems at home and/or school 

• episodes of sadness, tearfulness, irritability or depression

   OMMON ISSUES 

ADDRESSED

POTENTIAL

BENEFITS

OF PCIT

• Decreased frequency, severity, and/or duration of aggressive behavior

• Decreased frequency of destructive behavior (such as breaking toys on purpose)

• Decreased defiance

• Increased compliance with adult requests

• Increased respect for house rules

• Improved behavior in public

• Increased parental calmness and confidence during discipline

HOW IS 

PCIT

DIFFERENT?

Many behavior parent training programs teach similar parenting skills, PCIT differs from other programs because it:

• emphasizes in-session parent practice of skills

• parents receive live coaching and feedback related to skills

• parents are required to master specific parenting skills

• PCIT is not session-limited.

• Graduation is based on parent demonstration of mastery of skills

• Parents rate children's behavior problems as within normal limits before treatment graduation.