About this course

Learning Objectives

• Describe the theoretical foundations and core components of Parent–Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT).
• Identify the primary target population for PCIT, including age range, presenting problems, and caregiver involvement requirements.
• Explain the two treatment phases of PCIT—Child-Directed Interaction (CDI) and Parent-Directed Interaction (PDI)—and their therapeutic goals.
• Evaluate clinical indicators for determining whether a child and family are a good fit for PCIT, including considerations for exclusion and referral.
• Recognize the role of caregiver coaching and real-time feedback in facilitating behavior change and strengthening the parent–child relationship.

Learning Levels

• Beginner

Target Audience

Course Instructor(s)

• 

  Dominic Tannoia, PhD

  Dr. Tannoia specializes in treating anxiety, OCD, and body-focused repetitive behaviors (e.g., tics, hair pulling, & skin picking) for people of all ages. He has expertise in treating young children and is certified in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), which greatly informs his approach to treating children ages 2-7. PCIT includes live coaching, which Dr. Tannoia uses to help families effectively use a growing set of tools for navigating difficult situations. In addition to PCIT, Dr. Tannoia commonly utilizes Behavioral Parent Training, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) Treatment. His approach to treatment is integrative, and he draws from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT), Habit Reversal Training (HRT), and Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT).

References

• Bagner, D. M., Berkovits, M. D., Coxe, S., Frech, N., Garcia, D., Golik, A., Heflin, B. H., Heymann, P., Javadi, N., Sanchez, A. L., Wilson, M. K., & Comer, J. S. (2023). Telehealth treatment of behavior problems in young children with developmental delay: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Pediatrics, 177(3), 231–239. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2022.5204
• Boggs, S. R., Eyberg, S. M., Edwards, D. L., Rayfield, A., & Jacobs, J. (2004). Outcomes of Parent–Child Interaction Therapy: A comparison of treatment completers and study dropouts one to three years later. Child & Family Behavior Therapy, 26(4), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1300/J019v26n04_01 blueprintsprograms.org+13researchgate.net+13tpcjournal.nbcc.org+13
• Comer, J. S., Furr, J. M., Miguel, E. M., CooperVince, C. E., Carpenter, A. L., Elkins, R. M., Kerns, C. E., Cornacchio, D., Chou, T., Coxe, S., DeSerisy, M., Sanchez, A. L., Golik, A., Martin, J., Myers, K. M., & Chase, R. (2017). Remotely delivering realtime parent training to the home: An initial randomized trial of Internetdelivered Parent–Child Interaction Therapy (IPCIT). Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 85(9), 909–917. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000230
• Eyberg, S. M., Funderburk, B. W., HembreeKigin, T. L., McNeil, C. B., & Hood, K. K. (2001). Parent–Child Interaction Therapy with behavior problem children: One and twoyear maintenance of treatment effects in the family. Child & Family Behavior Therapy, 23(4), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1300/J019v23n04_01 researchgate.net
• Eyberg, S. M., & Robinson, E. A. (1982). Parent–Child Interaction Training: Effects on family functioning. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 11(2), 130–137. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374418209533076
• Eyberg, S. M. (2005). Parent–Child Interaction Therapy: Protocol for treatment. Gainesville, FL: PCIT International.
• Eyberg, S. M., Nelson, M. M., & Boggs, S. R. (2008). Evidence-based psychosocial treatments for children and adolescents with disruptive behavior. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 37(1), 215–237. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374410701820117
• Hood, K. K., & Eyberg, S. M. (2003). Outcomes of ParentChild Interaction Therapy: Mothers’ reports of maintenance three to six years after treatment. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 32(3), 419–429. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15374424JCCP3203_10 res
• Lieneman, C. C., Quetsch, L. B., Theodorou, L. L., Newton, K. A., & McNeil, C. B. (2019). Reconceptualizing attrition in Parent–Child Interaction Therapy: “Dropouts” demonstrate impressive improvements. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 12, 543–555. https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S207370
• Lieneman, C. C., Brabson, L. A., Highlander, A., Wallace, N. M., & McNeil, C. B. (2017). Parent-Child Interaction Therapy: current perspectives. Psychology research and behavior management, 10, 239–256. https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S91200
• Oregon Health Authority & West Virginia University Department of Psychology. (2019). Early childhood evidence-based dyadic behavioral health treatments [Webinar presentation]. Oregon Health Authority, Health Systems Division. https://www.oregon.gov/oha/HPA/dsi-tc/Documents/2-4-20%20Dyadic%20Webinar%20Materials.pdf