Parent Child Interactive Therapy

Programs that offer PCIT, a behavior management program that helps parents learn new ways to eliminate destructive behaviors in young children such as physical aggression, swearing, defiance, and disrespect to adults. PCIT places emphasis on improving the quality of the parent-child relationship by changing parent-child interaction patterns. It combines one-on-one coaching for parents by a trained PCIT therapist using structured child-parent play activities. The therapist uses a two-way mirror to watch the family interact and provides continual, real-time feedback, directions and encouragement through a hearing-aid-size radio receiver worn by the parent. Parents are first taught how to give praise for positive behavior and, when the parent and child have mastered the skills and the relationship has improved, move to the second phase of the process where discipline is introduced for negative behaviors.