Families can encounter a variety of stressors – some of which do not tend to significantly affect their functioning, while there are others that do.
The latter type of stressors may include, but are not limited to:
- Parental stress and/or mental illness
- Separation/divorce
- Trauma – e.g., significant injuries, witnessing community violence, terrorism, life threatening events such as fires or car accidents, abuse, domestic violence
- Death of a loved one
- Parental job loss
- Moving homes
What specifically is PCIT?
PCIT is a type of family treatment for children between the ages of 2 and 7 years old. It utilizes a live coaching model in order to optimize change in the parent-child dynamic, and focuses on developing a parent-child relationship in which the child feels safe and secure (a sense that is often lost in times of significant stress) through the use of positive attention and clear and consistent rules and limits.What does the process look like?
- Treatment begins with an observation of the parent-child interaction in different situations in order to ensure that PCIT is the right fit.
- The following sessions then consist of two different types:
- Teach sessions during which your PCIT clinician teaches you the specific skills that you will be practicing and utilizing in your interactions with your child
- Coaching sessions during which your PCIT clinician will observe and coach you through a one way mirror in the use of the skills.
- Treatment consists of two different phases:
- Child Directed Interaction (CDI) – Focuses on establishing a more positive parent-child interaction through the use of positive attention and play therapy skills that create a strong connection and sense of safety between the parent and child.
- Parent Directed Interaction (PDI) – Parents learn how to set clear and consistent limits, which leads to a sense of predictability for both the parent and child.
