Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is a gold-standard behavioral intervention for young children (ages 2-6) with emotional and behavioral disorders that improves the quality of the parent-child relationship. It involves live coaching you during interactions with your child to enhance positive behavior, improve communication, and reduce disruptive behavior. Dr. Denese is certified in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) through PCIT International.

What does PCIT help with?

  • Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)

  • Conduct Disorder

  • Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Trauma-related behaviors

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Parental love: white mom with son hugging her back.

Key Components:

  • Child-Directed Interaction (CDI): Focuses on improving the parent-child relationship through positive attention and play.

    • You are coached to follow your child’s lead in play, using specific skills to enhance your child's self-esteem and reduce inappropriate behaviors. These skills include:

      • Praise: Giving labeled praises to reinforce appropriate behavior.

      • Reflection: Paraphrasing what your child says to show understanding and encourage verbal communication.

      • Imitation: Imitating your child's play to show interest and approval.

      • Description: Describing your child's behavior to demonstrate attention and involvement.

      • Enjoyment: Showing enthusiasm and enjoyment during interactions.

  • Parent-Directed Interaction (PDI): Focuses on effective discipline and behavior management.

    • You are taught to give clear, direct commands and to follow through consistently with appropriate consequences. Strategies include:

      • Clear Commands: Giving specific, concise, and manageable instructions.

      • Consistent Consequences: Implementing time-out procedures and other discipline techniques consistently.

      • Positive Reinforcement: Continuously reinforcing good behavior with praise and rewards.

  • Live Coaching:

    • I observe your parent-child interactions via video feed and provide real-time feedback and guidance to you through an earpiece (AirPods, headphones, etc.)

Schedule Free Consultation Today

If interested, please schedule a free 15-minute consultation call by calling (508) 281-9103 or send a message through the website.