PCIT

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)

I am so glad you are considering PCIT for you and your family. It truly is a gift for all of you. I have felt and witnessed its benefits within my own family and I would love to share it with yours.

Let's schedule!

What is PCIT?

PCIT, or Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, is a highly effective, evidenced-based, short-term treatment for caregivers and their children. PCIT is best for caregivers and their children ages 2 - 7 years-old.

Who can benefit from PCIT?

Anyone! PCIT can improve the parent-child relationship, the child's vocabulary, child's self-esteem, focus, and the parent-child bond. However, it is also best for caregivers whose children struggle with:

- Behavioral concerns (hitting, kicking, throwing, biting)

- Defiant behaviors (does not listen to the word 'no')

- Disobedience

- Not following the rules

- Limit testing

- ADHD

How does PCIT work?

PCIT consists of 2 treatment phases. Each treatment phase lasts about 6 sessions.

Phase 1:
During this phase, the caregiver/s will learn and apply skills proven to help children feel calm, secure in their relationship with their caregivers, and improve self-esteem. When behavior issues exist, the caregiver-child relationship can understandably be strained and stressed. The whole point of this phase is to establish warmth within the relationship with your child.

Phase 2: During the second phase, the caregiver/s will learn skills to manage the most challenging of their child’s behaviors while remaining confident, calm, and consistent. They will learn strategies to help their child accept limits, comply with directions, respect house rules, and demonstrate appropriate behavior in public.

You said it was short-term... when can I expect to see improvements?

PCIT takes on average 16 weeks to master all the skills and fully graduate. However, this can be shorter or longer depending on how quickly the various skills are mastered. You will not have to wait those 16 weeks to see improvements. You will likely see improvement in as little as 2 weeks!

In-person or Live Video sessions...

Sessions are every week and will be 45-60 minutes in duration (depending on how many caregivers attend the session). However, additional supportive and coaching sessions can be scheduled based on scheduling availability to assist you in mastering the parenting skills you are learning in sessions and improving the interactions between you and your child/ children at home.

PCIT has been shown to be effective in-person and via Live Video. If appropriate and feasible, sessions may be held in the comfort in your own home via in vivo or video.

** Due to COVID, all sessions are currently held via Live Video. **

Why I love PCIT...

PCIT has a special place in my heart. I have done traditional play therapy for years and felt it came up short of the progress and change the caregiver/s and I wanted to see. PCIT feels like the missing link. Unlike traditional play therapy, in PCIT the caregiver/s are taught many of the same play therapy skills that a traditional play therapist would use. Because I coach and teach the parents to be the ones who are therapeutic, all the positive feelings, interactions and attachments that would have gone toward the therapist go toward the caregiver/s instead. Therefore, the positive changes from PCIT can be seen at least 6 years after treatment concludes.

I am certified in PCIT by PCIT International (find my listing under NY and IL)

http://www.pcit.org/united-states.html

https://pcit.ucdavis.edu/find-a-provider/united-states/4469/meredith-mahoney-psy-d-ms-ed/

Let's Schedule!

Insurance and Session Costs

Find out more about my work with parents