Parent-Child Interaction Therapy is an intervention founded on social learning and attachment theories (Allen, Timmer, Urquiza, 2014). Parent-Child Interaction Therapy uses the overview of attachment theory that states that “sensitive and responsive parenting provides the foundation of the child’s sense of knowing that he or she will be responded to when necessary” (Theoretical Underpinnings of PCIT, 2010). Therefore, the warmth, responsiveness, and sensitivity that Parent-Child Interaction Therapist teach and model when working with caregivers increases the chance that children will develop a sense of security in their interactions and relationship with their caregivers.
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy also utilizes …show more content…
(Prat, n.d.). Parent Child Interaction Therapy aims to accomplish several different goals. One of the goals is to improve the quality of the parent-child relationship (What is PCIT, 2012). Through PCIT, it is expected that the parent will establish a more positive relationship with their child. The next goal is to change negative parent-child interaction patterns (What is PCIT, 2012). It is expected that through the course of PCIT, caregivers will develop skills to help manage their child’s behavior so that the child’s negative behaviors will decrease. As a result, the child’s behavior will become more manageable and result in less distress for the caregiver. Another goal for PCIT is to teach specific skills to establish a nurturing and secure relationship between the parent and child (What is PCIT, 2012). It is expected that the parent will demonstrate improvements in reflective listening skills, learn to use more prosocial communication, as well as display a more positive attitude (Prat, n.d.). It is also expected that the parent will learn discipline techniques, which will help the child to listen and follow directions (Prat, n.d). Lastly, PCIT aims to increase the child’s prosocial behavior and decrease negative behavior (What is PCIT, 2012). This goal will be effective because children tend to model their parent’s behavior. Therefore, parents can use their modeling role to teach their children positive behaviors (Prat, n.d.). For example, when parents communicate with their child demonstrating manners, the child can learn from those behaviors and apply them in other environments such as