Parents often struggle to understand their children at different stages of development and face even more difficulty relating to them in ways that effectively encourage understanding.
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy can help improve these relationships for both parents and children. Read on to discover what Parent-Child Interaction Therapy is and whether it would benefit you and your children.
What Is Parent-Child Interaction Therapy?
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, or PCIT, is a live-coaching therapy method. The parent and child interact in one room together, while the therapist watches via a two-way mirror or live video feed. During the interaction, the therapist coaches the parent through a listening device the parent wears in his or her ear. This coaching helps the parent remember the skills he or she is learning in treatment.
Who Can PCIT Help?
PCIT is geared toward children between the ages of 2 and 8. These children often exhibit severe degrees of defiance, such as chronically refusing to follow directions or talking back to parents and other authority figures. They may exhibit severe behavior problems in school, playgroup, or similar settings and may show aggression, such as hitting or kicking, toward authority figures and peers.
PCIT is often used to help families in which parents have a particularly difficult time with discipline. They might find it hard to stick to a certain routine or house rules, or their children may have special needs that make conventional discipline more difficult to follow. For example, PCIT is often used with adoptive or foster parents who may be dealing with children who came from poverty, abusive situations, or drug-addicted parents.
PCIT can also help parents and guardians of children with other special needs, such as Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD) or Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED). This type of behavior disorder is deep-rooted and needs individualized, ongoing attention. Because PCIT is a live therapy method that allows parents and children to “practice” new behavioral skills, there isn’t as much pressure for the child to immediately comply.
Additional Resources:
http://www.pcit.org/what-is-pcit1.html