| Description |
This workshop describes Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), an evidence-based behavioral
treatment for families of young children with disruptive behavior disorders. Developed by Dr. Sheila
Eyberg, PCIT is based on Baumrind's developmental theory, which holds that authoritative parenting - a
combination of nurturance, good communication, and firm limits - produces optimal child mental health
outcomes. In PCIT, parents learn authoritative parenting skills through direct therapist coaching of parent
child interactions, guided by observational data collected in each session. Parents receive immediate
guidance and feedback on their use of techniques such as differential social attention and consistency as
they practice new relationship enhancement and behavioral management skills. Videotape review, slides,
handouts, and experiential exercises will be used to teach participants the basic interaction skills and
therapist coding and coaching skills used during treatment sessions. Applications of PCIT within
physically abusive families and other special populations will be discussed.
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