What is Parent-Child Interaction Therapy?
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is an evidence-based intervention developed by Sheila Eyeberg to treat young children with disruptive behaviors.
PCIT works to strengthen the caregiver-child relationship and teaches effective caregiving strategies through live parent coaching. PCIT is conducted through live coaching sessions during which the caregiver-child dyad plays and interacts while the therapist watches and coaches from an observation room using a “bug-in-the-ear” device.
Ensemble Therapy offers I-PCIT, or internet-based PCIT. In this practice, therapists work with families remotely to do the exact same treatment. Families receive therapy services in their home by setting up their phone, tablet, or computer in a way that allows the therapist to see the caregiver and child play during the therapy session. Using a wireless headset, therapists coach families through the structured sessions in the same way they would in an office setting. And what’s remarkable with this modality is that research is showing comparable or better outcomes compared to in-office PCIT!
PCIT consists of two treatment phases.
Phase 1: The first phase of treatment is called Child-Directed Interaction (CDI) and works to strengthen the caregiver-child relationship by using caregiving skills proven to help children feel confident and secure in their relationships with their caregivers. This phase teaches parents and caregivers skills that are similar to the skills play therapists use! Caregivers learn how to reinforce appropriate and wanted behaviors so that the frequency of these behaviors increases. CDI also works to decrease attention-seeking behaviors, increase attention span, support social skills such as sharing, decrease the frequency and/or severity of tantrums, increase parental and caregiving confidence, and decrease parental frustration.
Phase 2: The second phase of treatment is called Parent-Directed Interaction (PDI) and equips parents and caregivers with strategies to effectively, calmly, and confidently manage children’s most challenging behaviors. During this phase, caregivers implement techniques that teach children to follow instructions, respect boundaries and limits, and display appropriate behaviors both at home and in public. This phase of treatment works to decrease the frequency and severity of aggressive behaviors, increase compliance, decrease defiance and opposition, and increase caregiving confidence in managing children’s challenging and disruptive behaviors.
Who may benefit from Parent-Child Interaction Therapy?
If your child is 2-7 years old and has hard-to-manage disruptive behaviors, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy may be right for your family! Children who display any of the following behaviors may benefit from PCIT:
Refusal and defiance of adult requests
Emotional dysregulation
Low frustration tolerance
Vindictiveness
Frequent tantrums/meltdowns
Quick loss of temper
Aggressive behaviors toward people, animals, or property
Difficulty taking turns and playing calmly
Inattention and hyperactivity
PCIT has been shown to be an effective treatment for children diagnosed with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), intermittent explosive disorder (IED), selective mutism, other disruptive behavior disorders (DBDs), and autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
PCIT is often used for families who have recently adopted or reunified with their child.
What is the length of treatment?
Though treatment is not time-limited, PCIT can be completed in 14-20 sessions with consistent attendance and homework completion. Treatment is not considered complete until caregivers reach and maintain skills from both phases of treatment, parental ratings of their children’s behavior are within normal limits on a behavior rating scale, and caregivers report feeling confident using the skills learned in PCIT in real-life situations.
PCIT is different from other therapeutic approaches in that it:
Uses live coaching to support caregiver’s implementation of specific skills in the moment
Allows implementation of these skills during real-life situations, including at home and in public
Uses caregivers as the intervention to build warmth and security in the caregiver-child relationship so that caregivers are confident and well-equipped to manage disruptive behaviors outside of therapy
Reinforces the notion that therapy isn’t just once a week! Though families will attend therapy sessions once a week, caregivers will practice their skills daily for 5 minutes while spending time with their child. This is therapeutic and the most important part of treatment.
Is PCIT trauma-informed?
Yes! PCIT has been recognized as a trauma-informed intervention by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network and has been found to be effective for trauma-exposed children and maltreating caregivers. It is also used for families who have recently adopted or have been reunified with their child.
How can I find out if PCIT is right for my family?
To get in touch with Ensemble’s PCIT therapist to learn more, please fill out an inquiry form here.
