Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
What is PCIT?
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy – also called PCIT – is an evidence-based, short-term treatment designed to help young children with highly disruptive behavior learn to control their frustration. In PCIT, we work with each parent to strengthen their relationship with their child and build their confidence and ability to effectively guide and direct their child’s behavior, set limits, calmly discipline, and restore positive feelings to their interactions. PCIT treats the parent, the child and most importantly their interactions. Families change one interaction at a time!
What does PCIT Treat?
Children who display any or all of the following:
- Parent-child relational problems
- Refusal and defiance of adult requests
- Emotional dysregulation
- Low frustration tolerance
- Easy loss of temper
- Touchy or easily annoyed by others
- Deliberately annoying others
- Being spiteful or vindictive
- Blaming others for their mistakes
- Destruction of property
- Difficulty staying seated
- Difficulty playing quietly
- Difficulty taking turns
What Diagnosis might PCIT Be Best Suited For?
Children getting PCIT typically have one or more of the following diagnoses:
- Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
- Other disruptive behavior disorders (DBDs)
- Anxiety disorders
- Selective mutism