(Coming Soon in 2024)
Parent Child Interactive Therapy (PCIT) is an evidence-based treatment for young children with emotional and behavioral disorders that places emphasis on improving the quality of the parent-child relationship and changing parent-child interaction patterns. Children and their caregivers are seen together in PCIT. Most of the session time is spent coaching caregivers in the application of specific therapy skills. Therapists typically coach from an observation room with a one-way mirror into the playroom, using a “bug-in-the-ear” system for communicating to the parents as they play with their child. Concluding each session, therapist and caregiver together decide which skill to focus on most during daily 5-minute home practice sessions the following week.
PCIT is a short-term therapy designed for young children, aged two through seven. The techniques have been successful with:
- children who exhibit oppositional, defiant, controlling, and/or aggressive behavior in the home
- children exposed to chaotic households
- children impacted by abuse and neglect
- children in foster care placements and those with attachment disorders
