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Parent Child Interaction Therapy
Current statistics on the number of young children entering foster care has prompted Counseling4Kids to expand the reach of our mission and the continuum of care we provide to include prevention services to families and young children who are at-risk of abuse and involvement in the foster care system. In 2007, over 4,000 children ages 0-5 years old entered foster care for the first time because of parental abuse or neglect. Many times the parents of these young children have limited resources, high levels of stress, limited parenting skills and inadequate knowledge of child development. Young children who are defiant, aggressive, and prone to tantrums, present difficult challenges to parents who may be poorly equipped to handle their behaviors. Stress, frustration, and chronically negative parent-child interactions all too often push parents to physically and emotionally abuse the children in their care. These families need early intervention before abuse escalates and the children are removed from their homes and placed in foster care.
Thanks to a grant from First 5 LA, in April 2009 Counseling4Kids will begin building capacity to implement a Parent Child Interaction Therapy Program in our Burbank office. This program will serve vulnerable families with young children ages 2-7 who are at risk for experiencing abuse and foster care placement.
What is Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)?
PCIT is a research-driven therapy model proven to reduce child behavior problems, increase parenting skills, and improve the parent-child relationship. PCIT therapists work with parents and children together, coaching parents in how to effectively reduce their child’s problem behaviors. Great attention is paid to increasing positive parent-child interactions as well as diminishing undesirable child behaviors such as whining, sassing, defiance, aggression, and temper tantrums. This treatment is designed for children ages 2 to 7 years old, and emphasizes the importance of a healthy parent-child attachment and the ability of parents to build their child’s self esteem.
Research shows that as a result of PCIT, parents learn effective parenting techniques, the behavior problems of children decrease, and the quality of the parent-child relationship improves. PCIT has also been found to prevent child abuse and to strengthen at-risk families.
How Does PCIT Work?
PCIT uses a specially equipped play therapy room that allows the parent and child to interact while learning and practicing new communication and discipline skills. While the parent and child have “special play time,” a PCIT therapist is sitting behind a one-way mirror guiding the parent on what to say and do through an “ear bug” audio device. The therapist identifies specific skills the parent can implement and provides immediate feedback on effective interactions. This live coaching and guidance teaches parents how to respond to their children’s behaviors in the moment. Parents will learn and practice skills such as giving praise to increase positive behaviors, setting limits on problem behaviors, and giving “time outs.” Families in the PCIT program will be seen 1 time per week for 4 to 6 months, depending on the needs of the family. As in our other programs, all of our PCIT staff members are licensed therapists, experienced in working with children and families. With the capacity to deliver PCIT, Counseling4Kids will achieve an important goal in our efforts to intervene in the devastating trajectory of child abuse. This important prevention program broadens the continuum of care we currently provide with our post-abuse treatment programs.
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