Breaking bad behavior with good parenting skills
U C DAV I S PA R E N T- C H I L D I N T E R A C T I O N T H E R A P Y T R A I N I N G C E N T E R I S A L E A D E R
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is designed to promote positive parent-
PCIT
child relationships and interactions, and teach parents effective child-management skills.
This is achieved through instructional coaching of parents as they interact with their children.
I N D E V E L O P I N G P C I T P R O G R A M S T H R O U G H O U T T H E C O U N T RY
How Parent-Child
Interaction
Therapy works
PCIT outcomes
Coach/
Therapist
EARPIECE
COMMUNICATION
Evidence is convincing
that PCIT is an effective
ONE-WAY
MIRROR
Parent
parenting program
for high-risk and
Child
UC Davis launched its
training program in 2000
with the California Office
of Criminal Justice Planning.
UC Davis was one of the
first academic institutions
to widely disseminate the
information in a form that
enabled other organizations
to create PCIT programs.
UC Davis is a leader in implementing
more than
150
PCIT programs
at public mental-health and
child-welfare agencies across the
U.S. and in several countries.
100
Reducing the effects of trauma
19
%
reduction in
parental stress
UC Davis PCIT team will train mental-health providers in
over
abusive families.
Los Angeles County agencies
to effectively provide PCIT. UC Davis’
telehealth program is integral to training
providers. Los Angeles County is the largest
PCIT training site in the country.
UC Davis’ Trainer of Trainer (ToT) model has supported generations
of PCIT-trained professionals who have continued to achieve successful outcomes.
18
%
reduction in
disruptive behaviors
in children
22
%
reduction in
children’s trauma
symptoms
Sustaining a
thriving PCIT
program in
an agency
Maintaining
an accessible
onsite “expert”
for newly
trained staff
Assuring the
provision of
high-quality
services for
at-risk families
Ensuring
positive client
outcomes
Parent psychological
health
After completing PCIT, parents
of traumatized children show a
significant reduction in stress from
feeling out of control in the parent
role, according to their ratings
on the Parenting Stress Index. This
represents a shift from having clinical
levels to normal levels of problems.
Children’s behavior
problems
After completing PCIT, these
parents report reductions in
aggressive and defiant behaviors,
according to ratings on the Child
Behavior Checklist. This represents
a shift from having clinical levels
to normal levels of problems.
Children’s trauma
symptoms
After completing PCIT, these
parents report reduced intensity
of trauma symptoms (from the
clinical to normal range), like
nightmares, intrusive thoughts,
and avoiding people, places,
and things associated with the
traumatic event.
You can find out more about the
PCIT Training Center and its free
web course at pcit.ucdavis.edu.