Parent-Child Interaction Therapy

About the Program

Category: Children and Youth (Best in Category)

Year: 2014

Carroll County, Maryland promotes safe and stable families through a partnership of community organizations utilizing evidence-based practices. These organizations include: Carroll County Local Management Board (county government), Carroll County Department of Social Services (state government) Human Services Programs of Carroll County Family Center (nonprofit) and Carroll County Youth Service Bureau (nonprofit). The 2010 Community Assessment documented the need for mental health services for children (birth-5). In 2011, mental health clinicians from the Youth Service Bureau were trained and are providing Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). PCIT is implemented in two phases. The first phase is the Child Directed Interaction phase during which parents develop child-centered interaction skills. The second phase is the Parent-Directed Interaction phase during which effective discipline skills are the focus. PCIT gives equal attention to the development of the parent-child relationship and the development of parents’ behavior management skills. During parent-child interactions, immediate feedback is given by the therapist from an observation room, while the parent wears a radio frequency earphone. Therapists use behavioral principles: modeling, reinforcement, selective attending in their coaching to shape the parents' behaviors. The use of live coaching and immediate feedback is key to PCIT. Initial outcome data supports increased parent-child social interaction.