Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
Training for Mental Health Professionals
Parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT) is an evidence-based treatment program designed to reduce disruptive behavior in children. Parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT) works with parents and children together to promote positive parent-child relationships while decreasing the child’s acting out behavior. Adaptations of parent-child interaction therapy can be used to address separation anxiety disorder and autism spectrum disorder.
A modification of PCIT, IoWA-PCIT (Integration of Working Models of Attachment into Parent-Child Interaction Therapy), was developed by Beth Troutman, Ph.D., clinical professor at the University of Iowa. IoWA-PCIT maintains the core defining features of PCIT while integrating findings from attachment theory research. Her goal is for the families of young children exhibiting behavioral and emotional problems to be able to obtain effective interventions in their local communities. As a trainer of IoWA-PCIT, I am happy to further this goal.
IoWA-PCIT training is conducted in small group training. The year-long training involves a total of 52 hours of face-to-face or synchronous online training. Participants learn to view parent-child interactions from attachment theory and behaviorism perspectives. Participants learn to coach parents in two types of dyadic intervention: child-directed interaction (CDI) and parent-directed interaction (PDI). Participants learn to code parent verbalizations and child compliance using the Dyadic Parent-Child Interaction Coding System (DPICS-IV). Participants also learn to use verbal and nonverbal observations of parent-child interactions to understand the quality of the dyad's attachment. Participants learn to use observations of parent-child interactions, parent verbalizations, and attachment to tailor their parent coaching.
In order to participate in parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT) training, providers must have a master’s degree or higher in the mental health field.
If you would like to schedule private training for your staff or students, please use the form below. For more information about group and student discounts, please reach out.
Integration of Working Models of Attachment into Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (IoWA PCIT Training)
has been approved by NBCC for NBCC credit. Reflect to Connect Psychology is solely responsible for all
aspects of the program. NBCC Approval No. SP-4330.
