A evidence-based treatment procedure used to improve the quality of theparent-child relationship by teaching parents specific skills to deal with their children (2-7 years) who have emotional and behavioral problems (e.g., conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder). The treatment combines behavioral and play forms of therapy. It is founded on a combination of attachment and social learning theories. Skills includenurturing the relationship with their child and modifying their child’sbehaviors with the goal of creating a secure relationship and increasing thechild’s pro-social behaviors and decreasing negative behaviors. This treatmentis provided to the parent and child by a trained therapist who observes theirinteractions and provides guidance and reinforcement to the parent via ‘bug inthe ear’ technology. PCIT derives from the individual psychology of Rudolf Dreikurs (1897-1972) and developed further by Sheila Eyberg (see Bagner, & Eyberg, 2007). It also draws on the parenting classification of Diana Baumrind and as such emphasises an authoritative style of parenting.
See Attachment, Conduct disorder, Oppositional defiant disorder (OCD), Parental styles, Social learning theory, Social Skills Improvement System (SSIS)
Bagner,D. M., & Eyberg, S. M. (2007). Parent-child interaction therapy fordisruptive behavior in children with mental retardation: A randomizedcontrolled trial. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 36,418–429.