Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is a positive and intensive treatment program designed to help both parents and children. The program works with parents and children together to improve the quality of the parent-child relationship and to teach parents the necessary skills for managing children’s behavioral problems. PCIT has two main components: (1) Relationship Enhancement; and (2) Strategies to Improve Compliance. In the relationship enhancement component of the program, parents are taught and “coached” on how to decrease the negative aspects of their relationship with their children and then to develop consistently positive and supportive communication. In this compliance component of the program, parents are taught and “coached” the elements of effective discipline and child management skills. In both components of this program, parents are taught specific skills, and are given the opportunity to practice these skills during therapy until mastery is acquired and the child’s behavior is improved. PCIT is appropriate for children between the ages of 2-8 that are exhibiting chronic behavioral problems in the home, school, preschool, or day care settings.