Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)

When to Refer a Child to PCIT

Consider referring to PCIT when a child is displaying any of the following:

Challenging behaviors
Disruptive behaviors
To help with parental stress, frustration, or skills

Find a PCIT Provider

Locate a PCIT provider in our PCIT Provider directory in your area that you can refer a family to.

What Happens During PCIT

During PCIT sessions, the clinician actively coaches the parent on behavioral management techniques that help their child feel more secure.

The first phase of treatment – Child-Directed Interaction (CDI). Parents learn special play therapy skills to use while interacting with their child.
The second phase of treatment – Parent-Directed Interaction (PDI). Parents learn a discipline protocol that helps their child to follow directions through simple, clear instructions and immediate consequences for compliance and non-compliance.

Why PCIT

PCIT is the preferred treatment method for young children who have other disorders with behavioral and/or attachment concerns.
PCIT is rated highly on California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse and Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse.
Over 400 studies nationwide on PCIT with children who have been maltreated or at risk, have experienced serious physical abuse, have serious mental health needs, and in ethnic minority populations.
PCIT has been shown to significantly reduce behavioral problems at home and at school.
PCIT has been found effective with physically abusive parents.

Why NRPVYC trains IoWA-PCIT

We train using the IoWA-PCIT model of PCIT. The IoWA-PCIT model is a preferred treatment modality for young children who have other disorders with behavioral and/or attachment concerns, including children who have experienced attachment disruptions from trauma and/or loss. IoWA-PCIT integrates findings from attachment research into PCIT while maintaining the core defining features of PCIT. Both IoWA-PCIT and CPP are preferred treatment modalities for children in the child welfare system and other children with trauma histories.