Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)

Gold-Standard PCIT Clinic

What is Parent-Child Interaction Therapy?

1. Child Directed Intervention (CDI)

In the first phase of PCIT, you’ll learn how to become your child’s play therapist. We teach you play therapy skills designed to strengthen behavior and build social skills in young children. Then, we support you in real time by observing your play and providing live coaching, helping you learn and apply these skills more quickly while managing challenging behaviors. When things don’t go as planned, we guide you on what to do next—and when things go well, we help you reinforce those positive moments

❋ Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is an evidence-based treatment for children ages 2-7 years old that significantly improves parent-child relationships and decreases disruptive behavior. PCIT has two distinct phases:

2. Parent Directed Intervention (PDI)

The second phase of PCIT focuses on helping you and your child learn a consistent discipline approach that supports your child in following directions. You’ll learn how to communicate clearly and effectively—without yelling—while still helping your child listen and respond. We’re right there with you, providing real-time coaching and support when discipline feels challenging.

How do I know if PCIT is a good fit for my child and family?

❋ PCIT is often a strong fit for families who are struggling with acting-out behavior, frequent power struggles, or emotional dysregulation. It is also a good fit for parents who think, “I love my child, but I don’t know how to connect with them,” or “I don’t know how to manage these behaviors in a way that feels both effective and safe.”

❋ PCIT works best when parents are open to learning new strategies and willing to practice them consistently. Daily practice typically takes about five minutes and plays a key role in treatment success.

❋ PCIT is helpful for children and families navigating a wide range of diagnoses and behaviors, which include:

  • Children with oppositional behaviors

  • Children who. have frequent tantrums or emotional outbursts

  • Children who have difficulty following directions

  • Children diagnosed with ADHD

  • Children getting in trouble at school/daycare

  • Children who are going through changes in the family (ex. new sibling, re-marriage)

  • Children who have experienced traumatic events

  • Child-parent relationship strain

  • Children with low self-esteem

  • Children who are anxious

  • Children who are struggling socially

Why is PCIT so effective and when will I see results?

❋ PCIT is backed by over 40 years of research and has been studied across a diverse range of families and child concerns. Rather than focusing solely on changing the child, PCIT works by strengthening and transforming the parent-child relationship. Parents are taught essential skills for effective parenting, including warmth, connection, and clear, consistent limit-setting. Through live coaching, therapists support parents in adapting these skills to fit their child’s temperament, developmental stage, and unique family dynamics, allowing these strategies to carry over into everyday life beyond the therapy room.

❋ Many families begin to see changes within the first few weeks, especially when skills are practiced consistently at home. Early improvements often include calmer interactions, better listening, and a decrease in the intensity of challenging behaviors. As parents build confidence and consistency, progress continues to grow. Even when early gains are noticeable, completing the full course of PCIT is important to support lasting change. Progress is monitored through weekly behavior measures, allowing treatment to be adjusted as needed.

How is PCIT different from play therapy?

❋ Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) differs from traditional play therapy in both its structure and purpose. In standard play therapy, the child typically meets one-on-one with a therapist, and progress happens mainly within the therapy room. In PCIT, however, the parent is the primary agent of change, with therapists providing real-time coaching so parents can strengthen the relationship and manage behavior during everyday interactions at home.

❋ PCIT is designed to directly improve the parent-child relationship, equipping parents with skills to create therapeutic, connection-focused moments daily—not just during sessions. This approach is especially helpful for families facing challenging behaviors outside of therapy. Many families turn to PCIT after trying play therapy without seeing the level of behavior change they hoped for, as PCIT specifically targets disruptive behaviors through structured skill-building, consistency, and coached practice rather than relying solely on emotional expression.

Do behavior problems have to be severe for PCIT to help?

❋ No. Children do not need to have severe behavior problems for PCIT to be helpful. PCIT can be especially beneficial during times of transition or stress, such as starting school, changes in family structure, or increased emotional demands. Many families seek PCIT because they feel stuck or disconnected and want to create a calmer, more positive relationship with their child. In fact, many PCIT therapists use these same skills with their own children because of how effective they are in fostering connection and cooperation.

When might PCIT not be the right fit?

❋ PCIT is designed for young children and is typically not recommended for those over the age of 7. It may also not be the best fit if parents are unable to participate consistently or practice skills between sessions, as caregiver involvement is a key part of this coaching-based approach. When PCIT isn’t the right match, families are supported in exploring other evidence-based options.

  • "I promised myself I would parent differently than my parents did, but before PCIT, I didn't have the tools I needed to make that a reality. PCIT laid the groundwork for me to become the mom I wanted to be, and to truly connect with my daughter."

    PCIT Parent

  • "What I love about PCIT is that Hannah was always one step ahead of my son's difficult behaviors, and guided me step by step on how to handle them calmly and confidently."

    PCIT Parent

  • "I am so thankful that there is a therapist offering PCIT in Wilson. This is going to be a game changer for so many families."

    PCIT Parent

Ready to get started with PCIT?

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