River Oak Center for Children: Parent-Child Interaction Therapy

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is an effective research-based practice in which
therapists use a one-way mirror and a small piece of technology - an earphone - to provide
real-time parent coaching about how to communicate with and discipline their children effectively.
Studies have shown PCIT to increase parenting skills, decrease child behavior problems, and lower parents' personal distress.

PCIT can make dramatic changes in the parent-child relationship in as little as nine coaching sessions! Since River Oak began providing PCIT in February 2010, we have witnessed major success among our families. For example:

• Prior to PCIT, eight-year-old Nathan would not listen or follow rules, refused to clean up, climbed under the table, and had to be carried out of the therapy room. Today, his mother praises him for staying calm, listening and following the rules, sharing with his sister, and cleaning up.

• Prior to treatment, seven-year-old Tiana would not listen or follow rules, whined, was very bossy toward her mother, refused to clean up, climbed on the furniture, and screamed very loudly. Today, Tiana plays nicely with her mother, uses an appropriate tone of voice, tolerates frustration, listens, follows the rules, and cleans up when told to do so. Before PCIT, Tiana's mother shared she felt uncomfortable praising her daughter. Now, Tiana's mother finds many reasons to praise her daughter and does so easily.

Both Nathan and Tiana's families have begun the second phase of PCIT and are expected to successfully graduate from PCIT soon!

PCIT is provided to parents and caregivers of children ages two to eight. Children eligible for services are referred by the Sacramento County Child and Family Access Team, Department of Health and Human Services Division of Mental Health (916-875-9980) or by a River Oak clinician

To learn more about PCIT, please click here.