PARENT-CHILD INTERACTION THERAPY
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is a specialized treatment program designed for caregivers and their young children (2 to 7 yrs old) who are experiencing behavioral and/or emotional difficulties. PCIT has been found to help children who have any of the following:
- frequent temper tantrums
- act defiantly and/or refuse to follow directions
- backtalk or sass adults
- whine and/or cry easily
- are experiencing adjustment problems
- constantly seek attention
- interrupt others
- short attention span
- engage in power struggles with parents/caregivers
- difficulty behaving in school, preschool and/or daycare
- are aggressive, who hit, throw things and express great anger
- may already be on medication to manage behavioral problems
DECIDING IF PCIT IS RIGHT FOR YOU AS A PARENT… DO YOU:
- feel overwhelmed by your child’s behavior?
- feel angry at your child?
- have a child with an opposing temperament from your own?
- feel your child is out of control?
BENEFITS OF PCIT
PCIT has been proven to be highly effective in helping caregivers build warm and responsive relationships with their children, in improving overall behavior, and in reducing parenting stress. Upon completion of PCIT, parents report high levels of satisfaction, decreased stress levels, and positive changes in their children’s behaviors at home, school, and childcare settings.
GOALS OF PCIT
- improve parent/caregiver-child relationships
- improve children’s cooperation
- increase children’s abilities to manage frustration and anger
- increase children’s appropriate social skills
- improve children’s attention skills
- build children’s self-esteem
- increase parenting skills
- decrease caregiver’s stress