Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
What do you do when nothing seems to work?
Parenting is hard. And it’s work.
There - we said it.
As toddlers grow into young children with increasing strength, mobility, awareness, and expression, this can also bring challenging behaviors and emotions. A visit to any bookstore (or Amazon!) offers dozens of titles about how to manage these challenges, and oftentimes it is effective.
But what happens when those strategies aren’t quite right for your child or your family? What happens when you’ve tried one thing after another, with limited improvement and you’re struggling to be the parent you want to be? Or when your child is involved in repeated incidents at school? It’s time for something more.
How It Works
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is an evidence-based treatment designed for young children experiencing challenging behaviors and their caregivers.
The program focuses on building social skills, emotional regulation, and behavioral control through nurturing yet firm parenting practices.
Parents are supported in real-time to facilitate a warm, supportive relationship while helping their child through challenging behaviors and reactions. By using earpieces and virtual observation, our PCIT therapist can provide coaching to parents while interacting with their child in the comfort of their own home.
PCIT therapists undergo a rigorous training and certification process so you can be sure that you’re receiving the best care possible.
What It Helps With
PCIT is nationally recognized as an effective treatment for children exhibiting any of the following:
Frequent temper tantrums
Refusing to follow directions
Verbal and/or physical aggression
Destruction of toys or others’ belongings
Backtalking to adults
Whining or crying for no apparent reason
Hyperactivity
Interrupting others
Difficulty with behaviors at school, preschool and/or daycare
Check out these resources to learn more about PCIT:
PCIT International - https://www.pcit.org/for-parents.html
“All About Parent-Child Interaction Therapy” - https://adaa.org/learn-from-us/from-the-experts/blog-posts/consumer/all-about-parent-child-interaction-therapy-pcit
Getting The Support You Need
Parenting can feel overwhelming when challenging behaviors continue despite your best efforts. Parent-Child Interaction Therapy provides a structured and supportive way to strengthen your connection with your child while building practical tools to manage emotions and behavior.
PCIT is available for families in Cornelius, Huntersville, Lake Norman and throughout North Carolina.
If you are wondering whether PCIT may be a good fit for your family, we welcome the opportunity to talk with you about what you are experiencing and how this approach may help.