Short-term, evidence-based therapy for young children
What is PCIT?
What is PCIT?
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (or PCIT) is a short-term, evidence-based therapy for young children (ages 2-7) with disruptive behaviors. In PCIT, parents are taught skills to support their child during live coaching sessions with a Ross Center PCIT-trained child therapist. Parents practice a set of skills on how to navigate tough situations, learning to respond in a consistent, adaptive way when the behavior happens. Good habits and positive behavioral patterns are developed that reduce the incidence of problem behaviors and leave parents with a playbook and a set of skills that they can rely on as their child gets older. At The Ross Center, PCIT is delivered via telehealth so the parent/child interaction is observed directly in the child’s home.
How is PCIT Structured?
Throughout the treatment process, the therapist provides live coaching to parents as they learn and practice skills with their child during the appointment. The therapist provides live coaching to the parent through Bluetooth headphones as they observe the parent interacting with their child. Skills are developed over two treatment phases.
During the initial phase of treatment, parents are taught proven strategies to reinforce desired behaviors in their child and how to avoid arguments and power struggles with them. In the second phase, parents learn to manage their child’s disruptive behaviors and set limits effectively. Since coaching is provided in the moment, our therapists can be flexible in providing approaches to use specifically for your child’s challenging behaviors. You will learn tailored behavior management strategies that work for your family.
PCIT is most often limited to 12 – 14 sessions.
Who is PCIT appropriate for?
- Difficulty following directions and listening
- Low frustration tolerance
- Frequent tantrums
- Disruptive behaviors in public or at school
- Negative attention-seeking behaviors
- Problematic social skills
What can families expect to gain?
Parents gain confidence in their own behavioral management skills and a toolkit to use when challenging behaviors arise. Children build self-esteem and more adaptive behavioral patterns that have long-term impact. PCIT reduces parental stress and enhances your child’s ability to interact with others at home and school.
Read this BLOG POST from Dr. Tannoia to further understand how Internet-based PCIT works. To learn more about PCIT and set up an appointment with one of our PCIT trained therapists, please contact us.
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