Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is a behavioral family intervention for children 2-7 years of age with disruptive behavior disorders. It has been identified as a best practice for physically abusive parents. Developed by Sheila Eyberg at the University of Florida, PCIT integrates concepts from social learning theory, traditional play therapy, and attachment theory to enhance the parent-child relationship, increase children’s pro-social behaviors, and increase parents’ behavior management skills. The program is implemented in two phases: The first phase is the Child Directed Interaction (CDI) phase during which parents develop child-centered interaction skills. The second phase is the Parent-Directed Interaction (PDI) phase during which effective discipline skills are the focus.
The UF PCIT Training Workshops are held over 5 days and are designed for child therapists, treatment researchers, and therapy trainers at the Masters or Doctoral level. The workshops emphasize fine-tuning of fundamental PCIT skills and enhancing coding, coaching, and therapy process skills to engage and motivate families to meet treatment completion criteria efficiently. Previous experience with PCIT is strongly recommended. Workshop objectives, content, pricing, and contact information can be found at http://pcit.phhp.ufl.edu/General_Workshop.htm