Parent Child Interaction Therapy

Administered by Aspira Wellness and Education, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is an innovative and specialized therapy program designed to assist parents with children, ages 2-8, who have autism, behavioral challenges or developmental delays. PCIT provides all parents, including birth, foster and adoptive, with tested behavioral management and relationship enhancing tools. The goal of PCIT is to empower parents, improve the quality of the parent-child relationship and help ensure long-term family success.

PCIT was developed by UC Davis in the early 1990’s for high-risk families and outcomes have shown that the approach has been successful in improving parent-child interaction and communication.  The PCIT therapists use a “bug in the ear” coaching technique to role model and teach parents how to interact positively with their child with the use of praise, positive reinforcement, and consistent follow-through with their directives.  In the PCIT program, parents also learn to become more in tune with their child needs and to recognize signals of their child’s distress so that they can respond appropriately.  Parents who have participated in PCIT report decreased feelings of isolation, frustration, and failure with increased feelings of empowerment and confidence in their parenting skills. Please visit the UC Davis Parent-Child Interaction Therapy website to learn more at www.pcit.tv

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy Will:

• Improve parent-child interaction and communication
• Teach parents how to use clear directives, positive reinforcement and consistent follow through
• Coach parents to recognize child distress and respond appropriately
• Reduce parental isolation and feelings of frustration and failure
• Empower parents to develop nurturing and secure relationships with their children

Qualifications for the PCIT program:

• Child must be between 2 and 8 years old
• Child resides with the parent (or caregiver) who will receive PCIT services, OR will reside and/or reunify with that parent within 6 weeks of starting treatment, and has liberal visitation with the parent until that time
• Child is exhibiting difficult to manage behaviors according to referring party

Cost of Services:

• Covered by some private insurance programs
• Sliding scale fees available
• Eligible for health care flexible spending account reimbursement
• The program is offered through the San Andreas Regional Center (SARC).

Please call us today for more information (408) 229-0775

You can also request more information by contacting us.