Parent-Child Interaction Therapy

Parent–Child Interaction Therapy and Training

PCIT is a positive and well-respected program designed to help both parents and children. In PCIT, parents and children play together while a therapist talks to the parent through an earpiece. Parents are taught specific skills that will help foster a more positive relationship with their child and help decrease their child's negative behaviors.

What is PCIT?

PCIT teaches parents how to break down barriers to communication, how to use positive reinforcement to promote good behavior, and how to ignore tantrums and outbursts to help reduce bad behavior.

PCIT is different from other training programs in that the parent is in one room with their child and the coach (therapist) is behind a one-way mirror directing the parent how to interact with the child through an earpiece. PCIT is focused on both relationship building and behavior management. Training includes three teaching sessions alone with the parents without the child. The remaining sessions are coaching sessions with the therapist guiding the parents and giving feedback every step of the way.

PCIT Consists of Two Parts

Part One: Relationship Enhancement
Parents learn how to decrease the negative aspects of their relationship with their child and how to develop and increase consistently positive and supportive communication.
Part Two: Strategies to Improve Compliance
Parents learn to use effective commands and specific behavior management techniques. Parents are taught time out procedures and how to manage children's behavior in real world settings.

Is PCIT Right for My Family?

• Is your child having behavior problems at home, school or daycare?

• Is your child constantly arguing with you?

• Does your child refuse to follow directions?

• Does your child anger quickly or throw temper tantrums?

• Do you find yourself yelling at your child or losing your temper?

• Is your child shy, withdrawn or have low self-esteem?

• Does your child have difficulty attending school?

If so, YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!!
Behavior problems among children are fairly common. These problems can be effectively treated if they are addressed early. PCIT is backed by 20 years of research and has been scientifically proven to successfully treat these behavior problems.

PCIT is Appropriate for Children Who: 

• Are between the ages of 2 - 8

• Are exhibiting chronic behavioral problems at home, school, pre-school or daycare

• Have experienced stress or trauma

• Are currently living with one or both parents, relatives, foster or adoptive parents

• May be taking medication to manage their behavioral problems.

Who is Eligible for PCIT? 

Parents with children between the ages of 2 - 8 who would like to improve the quality of their relationship with their child, help their child reduce their behavioral difficulties at home and in school, increase the child's cooperative behaviors, and increase the child's self esteem. Parents can refer themselves to the program, or they can be referred by social workers, teachers, court mediators, etc.

In order to qualify for PCIT the parent must have frequent and consistent contact with and access to the child. Parents who have only supervised visitation with their child cannot participate. PCIT is suitable for birth parents, foster parents, grandparents and other caregivers who are raising the child, and adoptive parents with their children. In cases that the child is in foster care and the birth parent is receiving reunification services, there must be a clear case plan to reunify the birth parent with the child in order for the birth parent to qualify for PCIT.

What Does the Process of PCIT Entail?

PCIT on average consists of 20 sessions. There are two main phases, the Relationship Enhancement phase and the Parent-Directed Interaction phase. There are also coaching sessions alone with the parent to teach and model the specialized parenting skills practiced in PCIT.

The first coaching session takes place before the start of the Relationship Enhancement phase, which lasts for an average of about 10 sessions. During this phase, the therapist observes and coaches the parent and child and their interactions together and develops an individualized plan to help the parent and child in their interactions together. The therapist works with the parent and child to help discover desired outcomes.

The other two coaching sessions take place during the Parent-Directed Interaction phase, in which the parents learn and practice how to apply positive discipline skills to elicit their child's cooperation. On average, the second stage lasts for about 10 more sessions. In both phases the therapist provides live coaching from behind a one-way mirror, while the parent and the child interact and play in an adjacent room. The parent is equipped with a special earpiece so they can hear the therapist's live coaching.

What is the Ultimate Goal or Result of PCIT?

The ultimate result (and goal) of PCIT is an overall improvement in the quality and warmth of the parent-child relationship and an increase in the child's cooperative behaviors and self esteem. In the case of children in foster care and adoption, the foster or adoptive parents also report an improvement in the quality of their child's attachment to them. PCIT can often assist an anxious child or a child who has been through a traumatic experience in feeling more secure.

PCIT is a Respected Method of Helping Parents and Children

PCIT is a research-based and well-respected therapy that has been in existence for over 20 years. It has been proven to help many parents and children in improving the quality of their relationships and in decreasing behavioral and emotional difficulties of the child.