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APA Psychotherapy Training Videos are intended solely for educational purposes for mental health professionals. Viewers are expected to treat confidential material found herein according to strict professional guidelines. Unauthorized viewing is prohibited.
Parent–Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is an empirically-supported intervention developed by Dr. Sheila Eyberg of the University of Florida for treatment of young children (2 to 7 years) with conduct problem behavior. The distinguishing feature of PCIT is that it focuses on improving the quality of the parent–child relationship by coaching parents in specific skills as they interact with their child. There are two phases to the treatment program. In Child Directed Interaction (CDI), parents are coached in skills similar to those used by play therapists to establish a nurturing and secure relationship with their child. Goals of CDI include enhancing the child's self-esteem, promoting prosocial behavior in the child, and reducing the child's anger and frustration. In the second phase of treatment, Parent Directed Interaction (PDI), parents are coached in the use of behavior management techniques that promote child compliance and reduce aggressive and disruptive behaviors. Throughout PCIT, parents receive immediate feedback in such areas as praising appropriate behavior, interacting at the child's developmental level, ignoring inappropriate behavior, giving good instructions, and teaching children to accept a timeout consequence. PCIT originally was developed and evaluated for the treatment of disruptive behavior disorders in young children. A typical client would be a child between the ages of 2 and 7 years who is displaying defiance, aggression, temper tantrums, and hyperactivity. More recently, PCIT has been applied to a range of presenting problems including anxiety disorders, chronic pediatric illness, developmental disorders, and child maltreatment. For further information, please see the PCIT Web site. In particular, please see the following article on that Web site: Herschell, A. D., Calzada, E., Eyberg, S. M., & McNeil, C. B. (2002). Parent–child interaction therapy: New directions in research. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 9, 9–16. |
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