Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is a unique evidence-based treatment for children and their caregivers; designed to effectively target oppositional, disruptive behaviors within a time-limited format. Through a combination of didactics and live-coaching sessions, PCIT equips parents and caregivers with concrete skills to improve the caregiver-child relationship, increase pro-social behaviors, and decrease problematic behaviors.

PCIT progresses across two treatment phases; each of which start with a skills-training caregiver session, followed by a series of live-coaching sessions.

The first phase focuses on establishing caregivers as a source of warmth, security, and positive attention. In the second phase, caregivers learn and apply tools to calmly and consistently manage the most challenging of behaviors; as well as strategies to help the child comply with directions, follow house rules, and behave appropriately in public.

PCIT has been successfully adapted to target childhood anxiety disorders (such as separation anxiety, phobias, and selective mutism), all while improving the caregiver-child relationship.

Combining the relationship-enhancing phase of PCIT with established exposure therapy techniques, the therapist leads caregivers in coaching their child through progressive “bravery practices” to decrease avoidant behaviors and empower the child to feel brave (even in the face of anxiety).

Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) is an evidence-based approach to reducing challenging behaviors and decreasing ineffective conflict between children and their caregivers.

Rather than viewing problematic behaviors as a form of willfulness, CPS sees these behaviors as evidence of a skills deficit in problem solving. Through skills training and family coaching, the child and their caregivers learn to clarify their own goals and methods for achieving them; as well as new ways of communicating to help build problem-solving skills and decrease arguments and escalation.