Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) in California & PSYPACT States
Parent Coaching That Works: Why Families Choose PCIT
Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is a super-effective method of transforming family relationships. It is a short-term, evidence-based therapy that treats child behavioral and emotional problems. Pediatricians recommend PCIT therapy for young children with ADHD symptoms, tantrums, and emotional challenges. Many burned-out families find PCIT when their child's meltdowns become out of control. They have tried everything they can think of, but nothing seems to work. Is this starting to sound familiar?
So why is PCIT so effective? PCIT coaching happens live, in real time. Your therapist sees and hears your interactions with your child. You wear an earpiece to hear your therapist's live guidance while you and your child play together. When challenging child behaviors come up, your therapist can see exactly what's happening. Then, they help you apply new parenting skills in just the right way to help your child engage and cooperate. Most families need 12 to 20 sessions to complete the program. That means significant child behavior change in months, not years!
During PCIT, kids increase self-esteem, improve attention and frustration tolerance, and cooperate more. Parents feel more confident in managing child behaviors at home. And the whole family system has less stress. Want to learn more about how PCIT works? — Check out our PCIT Guide for Parents blog.
A person displaying this mark has met the certification requirements established by PCIT International to provide PCIT.
PCIT Therapy Treats Child Emotion and Behavior Problems
Breaking or damaging property
Easily annoyed, irritated, or angered
Being spiteful or vindictive
Trouble completing daily tasks
Blaming others for their mistakes
Oppositional behavior or defiance
Attachment disruptions, adoptions, foster care
Anxiety and depression
PCIT was designed for children ages 2 to 7 years old, but it can be adapted for children ages 0 to 11 years old. PCIT has been proven effective for children with any of the following challenges, and more:
Inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity
Difficulty following directions
Meltdowns/ tantrums
Difficulty taking turns, sharing, and keeping friends
Researchers have adapted PCIT to treat many other age groups and concerns, as well. Learn more about PCIT-Toddlers, PCIT for ADHD, and other adaptations in our PCIT blog series.
Research Shows PCIT Outperforms Other Child Therapy Approaches
Parent Child Interaction Therapy has been studied for over 50 years! Research has shown it is a superior treatment for child behavior concerns. When researchers compared PCIT results to other common therapies, they found that PCIT was the most effective. The graph to the right shows that PCIT had greater effects than parenting programs, play therapy, and even ADHD medication! Studies also show that children's behavior improvements last well after they complete PCIT. Behavior and social gains made in PCIT extend to the school setting. And even untreated siblings' behavior improves during PCIT treatment.
Interested in more research about PCIT and it's outcomes? Take a peek at the current research summaries published by PCIT International.
Did you know that PCIT online is just as effective as Parent Child Interaction Therapy in a therapist's office? All you need is a laptop or tablet, headphones, and a stable internet connection. Research shows that families who completed virtual PCIT have just as good, if not better results. Virtual PCIT has made PCIT more accessible and acceptable to busy families. Therapists love it because it gives them a window into the family's real life home environment. Children may show their true behaviors more readily at home than in the office. And parents may feel more confident practicing skills on their own when coaching happens in their own space with their own toys.
To learn more about the how PCIT online works, take a look at our blog post.
Online PCIT: Convenient, Effective Therapy From Home
Frequently Asked Questions About PCIT
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PCIT was originally designed for children ages 2 to 7. Now, PCIT adaptations are available that extend the age range from 12 months to 11 years old.
Certified PCIT therapists may specialize in some, but not all available age adaptations. If your child is under 3 years old, check out PCIT-Toddlers. And if they're over 7 years old, consider PCIT for Older Children.
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Weekly PCIT sessions typically last 45–60 minutes. Parents work with the therapist the whole time. Children usually join for about 20–40 minutes of the session during parent-child play.
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Most families complete PCIT therapy in 12–20 weekly sessions.
"Graduating" PCIT happens when families meet a variety of research-supported benchmarks. Progress through PCIT is not usually time-limited (unless you are in a research study). Consistent attendance and home skills practice are the best predictors of how long it takes to complete PCIT. Some families complete the program in a shorter or longer timeframe than the estimate above. If a family has a complex presentation or other disruptions to consistent participation, PCIT may take longer to complete.
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For decades, research has proven that PCIT is a highly effective and efficient treatment for child behavior problems.
One study showed that PCIT had greater effect sizes than play therapy, parenting classes, CBT, and even ADHD medication. Even families who only completed 4 sessions of PCIT had better outcomes than those in traditional therapies.
Research shows that specific adaptations of PCIT are also effective for different populations. For example, PCIT Toddlers is an adaptation for babies and toddlers. Recent studies show PCIT-Toddlers is more effective than other therapies at building secure attachment, attunement and empathy. It also prevents or resolves early onset child emotional and behavioral problems better than other common therapies.
Other PCIT adaptations must provide effectiveness research to be endorsed by PCIT International. You can find up to date information on PCIT research and effectiveness here.
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Yes! Studies show that virtual PCIT is just as effective as PCIT done in an office. Many families and therapists (like me) even prefer it that way.
PCIT from home helps families reduce their barriers to treatment. Therapists see kids' real-life behaviors at home, and find personalized solutions. With online PCIT, your care is as personalized as it gets. Therapists can guide how to parent within your exact home layout, with your own toys. You'll learn tips to navigate difficult routines (like bedtime) and your own common household interruptions (like siblings or pets). For more information about PCIT online, check out our blog post!
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While many child therapists have heard of PCIT, only certified PCIT therapists (or those in training under a certified PCIT trainer) are qualified to offer the full evidence-based program.
PCIT certification is a rigorous process that involves over 40 hours of didactic training, learning and demonstrating reliable coding using the PCIT manual, observation and feedback by a certified trainer of several key PCIT sessions to ensure fidelity to the model, and ongoing regular consultation with a trainer until several clients have successfully graduated. PCIT therapists are required to participate in continuing education every 2 years to maintain certification, and frequently consult with the larger PCIT community to hone their expertise. Once PCIT therapists have been certified, they are able to participate in a further learning of PCIT adaptations, and some of those programs require their own rigorous training, observation, and certification processes.
Because PCIT certifications are so time, effort, and investment intensive, certified PCIT therapists can be hard to find. You can verify a therapist’s credentials and find a list of certified PCIT therapists at any of the accrediting bodies’ links below:
How to Begin Parent Child Interaction Therapy in California & PSYPACT States
Getting started with PCIT is as easy as 1, 2, 3! Dr. Sabrina specializes in PCIT online with a personal touch, and provides therapy in California, North Carolina, and all PSYPACT States. So if you’re ready to transform your family with PCIT right in your own home, book a free consultation with Dr. Sabrina today! Or contact us about other online therapy for kids and families: CBT, PCIT-Toddler, diabetes counseling, chronic illness therapy, and more.
Step 1: Request a PCIT Consultation
Don’t waste time finding out the basics — we pride ourselves on being transparent about availability, out of network insurance options, and pricing. Learn more in our consultation request form — and if it looks good to you, submit your info to get started!
Step 2: Schedule a Free Call
If we have slots available that match your scheduling needs, you’ll receive a link and email to schedule a free 15-minute phone call with Dr. Sabrina. She’ll answer your questions about PCIT and working with her — and you’ll both decide if it’s a good fit.
Step 3: Start PCIT Therapy
You’ll get all set up in the client portal and have your first meeting with Dr. Stutz. In that first meeting, she’ll learn all about your child and family, and give you an orientation to the PCIT process. You’ll also work together to plan any tailoring your family might need for PCIT to fit your values, customs, and needs.
