Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is an empirically-supported, manualized parent-training therapy for children ages 2-7 who exhibit significant disruptive, aggressive, and oppositional behavior. The PCIT therapist, rather than interacting directly with the child, “coaches” a caregiver in using new skills while the caregiver is playing with the child.
The first phase of treatment focuses on teaching the caregiver positive attention skills to strengthen the parent-child attachment. When the caregiver masters these skills, the family moves on to the second phase, which addresses appropriate limit-setting and consistent discipline.
