PARENT-CHILD INTERACTION

THERAPY (PCIT)

PCIT is an evidence-based treatment for young children with behavioral problems. PCIT is conducted through "coaching" sessions during which you and your child are in a playroom while the therapist is in an observation room watching you interact with your child through a one-way mirror and/or live video feed. You wear a "bug-in-the-ear" device through which the therapist provides in-the-moment coaching on skills you are learning to manage your child's behavior.

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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.