Parent Child Interaction Therapy

Parenting can be overwhelming, especially when you're faced with challenging behaviors that seem unmanageable. With the skills you will gain through PCIT can give you the tools to make lasting changes. By learning how to respond with consistency, patience, and compassion, you will find new ways to strengthen your connection with your child and reduce power struggles.

It’s important to believe that with the right support and skills, your relationship with your child can improve. Challenging behaviors can decrease, and a more peaceful, loving, and respectful family environment is possible. You are not alone in this journey — Ashley Huddleston, LCSW, is here to support you every step of the way.

If you’re ready to take the next step in transforming your relationship with your child, together we’ll work toward building a stronger, healthier bond with your child and creating lasting positive changes in your family’s dynamic.

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Ashley Huddleston, LCSW

With over 15 years offering PCIT, Ashley is an expert in early childhood mental health and offers a safe space for parents to learn structured skills to help manage difficult behaviors.

Mother of 4 year old, former client

“Working with Ashley was incredibly helpful for my daughter and me. Her language skills increased  and our communication has improved a lot. Ashley is a very kind and knowledgeable person and I think every parent would benefit from learning the techniques she teaches!”

What is Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)?

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is a highly effective, evidence-based therapeutic approach designed to improve the relationship between parents and children while also addressing challenging behaviors. PCIT focuses on enhancing the parent-child bond through interactive, structured sessions, with a strong emphasis on real-time coaching and feedback. The therapy helps parents develop practical skills to manage behaviors, increase positive interactions, and create lasting changes in their child's emotional and behavioral responses.

PCIT has been extensively researched and proven to be effective in helping children with a variety of behavioral challenges, including aggression, noncompliance, anxiety, and tantrums. With a focus on positive reinforcement and consistent discipline, PCIT empowers parents to address their child’s behaviors in a supportive, calm, and consistent manner, leading to improved family dynamics.

How Does PCIT Work?

PCIT is delivered through two core phases, each designed to build upon and strengthen your parenting skills while simultaneously improving your child’s behavior. During each session, Ashley Huddleston, LCSW, provides live coaching to guide and support you as you interact with your child, making real-time adjustments to your approach.

Phase 1: Child-Directed Interaction (CDI)

In this phase, the focus is on building a stronger, more positive relationship between you and your child. You will learn and practice skills that promote praise, warmth, and connection. This phase is all about strengthening your child’s self-esteem, increasing their positive behaviors, and improving your ability to nurture their emotional needs.

  • Skills You’ll Learn:

    • PRIDE skills are a key part of the Child-Directed Interaction (CDI) phase of PCIT. They’re a set of practical, easy-to-use techniques that help parents foster a positive, warm, and supportive relationship with their child. PRIDE skills are designed to encourage and strengthen good behavior while also improving the overall bond between parent and child. The skills are easy to remember because they spell out the word "PRIDE," which stands for:

      • Praise

      • Reflect

      • Investigate

      • Describe

      • Encourage

      Each of these skills is used during playtime or any positive interaction, giving you specific tools to praise and reinforce your child’s good behavior while fostering a more cooperative, calm, and happy relationship.

Phase 2: Parent-Directed Interaction (PDI)

In this phase, you will learn how to implement effective discipline strategies to address challenging behaviors. The focus shifts to clear and consistent discipline that helps your child learn boundaries and expectations, all while maintaining a loving and supportive environment. Through live coaching, Ashley will guide you to confidently manage behaviors without escalating tension.

  • Skills You’ll Learn:

    • Setting clear, consistent limits and expectations

    • Using effective commands and follow-through

    • Managing defiant behavior without frustration

    • Implementing consequences that are fair and consistent

    • Staying calm and in control during difficult moments

What Are PRIDE Skills?

PRIDE skills are a key part of the Child-Directed Interaction (CDI) phase of PCIT. They’re a set of practical, easy-to-use techniques that help parents foster a positive, warm, and supportive relationship with their child. PRIDE skills are designed to encourage and strengthen good behavior while also improving the overall bond between parent and child. The skills are easy to remember because they spell out the word "PRIDE," which stands for:

  • Praise

  • Reflect

  • Investigate

  • Describe

  • Encourage

Each of these skills is used during playtime or any positive interaction, giving you specific tools to praise and reinforce your child’s good behavior while fostering a more cooperative, calm, and happy relationship.

The PRIDE skills help create a nurturing, positive environment where your child feels encouraged, heard, and valued. By using these skills consistently, you help your child develop social and emotional skills, while also strengthening the trust and connection between you. These skills are at the heart of PCIT’s approach, making it easier to build a healthy, respectful relationship with your child and manage their behavior in a positive way.

P – Praise

Praise is about recognizing and reinforcing positive behavior. The goal is to focus on what your child is doing well, rather than only pointing out what they’re doing wrong. You’ll learn how to give specific praise that highlights the behavior you want to see more of.
Example: "I love how you’re sharing your toys with your sister!"

R – Reflect

Reflecting is about mirroring what your child says or does. It’s a way of showing them that you’re really listening and engaged, which builds their self-esteem and encourages them to keep communicating with you.
Example: If your child says, “Look, I made a tower!” you might reflect back, “Wow, you built a really tall tower!”

I – Investigate

Investigation is about asking open-ended questions that encourage your child to think and engage more deeply. This helps build their problem-solving and emotional skills while also strengthening your connection.
Example: "What do you think will happen if you add one more block to the tower?"

D – Describe

Describing is about labeling and acknowledging what’s happening in the moment. It helps your child feel seen and understood, which boosts their confidence and encourages them to keep engaging in positive behavior.
Example: "I see you're stacking the blocks one on top of the other. It looks like you're building a really tall tower!"

E – Encourage

Encouraging is all about giving your child positive reinforcement to keep them motivated. It's about celebrating effort, even if they haven’t fully succeeded yet. This helps your child build resilience and confidence in their abilities.
Example: "I can see you're trying really hard to balance the blocks. Keep going!"

Discipline Strategies in Parent-Directed Interaction (PDI)

In PDI, the goal is to guide children’s behavior while maintaining a positive, respectful relationship. The primary strategies focus on giving clear commands and using effective consequences when expectations are not met. Here’s how it works:

1. Giving Clear, Direct Commands

Effective discipline starts with clear, simple instructions. In PDI, you’ll learn how to give commands that are specific, easy to understand, and age-appropriate. The key is to be calm, direct, and confident when giving a command, so your child knows exactly what is expected of them.

  • Key Principles for Giving Commands:

    • Be clear and specific: Instead of saying “Behave,” say, “Please pick up your toys now.”

    • Use simple language that your child can understand.

    • Give a command only once—don’t repeat it multiple times or nag.

    • Maintain calm, neutral body language and avoid showing frustration.

  • Example: “Please put your shoes in the basket.” (Instead of “Pick up your mess” or “Why aren’t you listening?”)

2. Effective Follow-Through

Once you’ve given a command, it’s crucial to follow through—this means staying calm and consistent, and waiting to see if your child follows through with the request. If your child complies, offer praise for doing what was asked. If not, it’s time to use a consequence.

  • Why Follow-Through is Important:

    • It teaches your child that they can count on you to keep expectations consistent.

    • It builds trust between you and your child, because they learn you will stick to your word.

3. The “Wait” Time (Non-Compliance Consequence)

If your child refuses to follow a command, wait time is the first step in managing noncompliance. This strategy involves giving your child a set amount of time to comply with the command before implementing a mild, age-appropriate consequence. The goal is to teach that there are clear, predictable outcomes for not listening.

  • How to Implement “Wait” Time:

    • Give your child a brief pause (usually 5 seconds) to respond to your request.

    • If they don’t follow through, calmly state, “If you don’t do this, we’ll need to have a time-out,” or another age-appropriate consequence.

    • Stay neutral—avoid raising your voice, but stay firm.

  • Why It Works:
    It helps your child understand that there are natural consequences for not following directions. The key is predictability and consistency so your child knows what to expect.

4. Time-Out

Time-out is a brief, non-punitive break from a situation that gives the child a chance to calm down and reset. It’s not about punishment, but rather about helping the child reflect on their behavior and learn to make better choices.

  • How to Use Time-Out Effectively:

    • Use time-out for severe behavior (e.g., hitting, kicking, or aggressive defiance).

    • Time-out should be brief—about 1 minute per year of age (e.g., a 4-year-old gets a 4-minute time-out).

    • Choose a neutral, non-stimulating place for time-out, such as a quiet corner.

    • Avoid engaging in power struggles during time-out—simply direct your child to the spot, remain calm, and let them sit there quietly.

    • After the time-out is over, acknowledge that it’s done and redirect to positive behavior.

  • Why It Works:
    Time-out gives children a chance to calm down, regain control, and think about their actions. It helps them self-regulate without the escalation of emotions from parents.

5. Positive Reinforcement for Compliance

When your child follows a command, it’s important to offer positive reinforcement immediately. This encourages them to continue behaving in ways that meet your expectations and reinforces the behaviors you want to see more of.

  • How to Reinforce:

    • Praise specific actions immediately after your child complies.

    • Be sure your praise is genuine and specific: “Great job putting your shoes in the basket, you followed my instruction perfectly!”

    • Use high fives, smiles, or hugs to show positive emotion, if that feels natural.

  • Why Positive Reinforcement Works:
    Positive reinforcement increases the chances of good behavior being repeated. It also strengthens the parent-child bond by highlighting and celebrating your child’s success.

6. Natural Consequences (When Appropriate)

Sometimes, letting your child experience the natural consequence of their behavior can be one of the most powerful ways to teach lessons. These are consequences that happen as a direct result of the child’s actions—without you needing to impose anything additional.

  • Example of a Natural Consequence:
    If your child refuses to put away their toys and they can’t find them the next time they want to play, that’s a natural consequence. It helps them learn that actions have consequences.

  • Why Natural Consequences Work:
    They teach kids about cause and effect, and help them make better choices in the future because they experience the outcome of their actions directly.

Why These Discipline Strategies Work?

The discipline strategies in PDI focus on consistency, clarity, and calmness. By using these techniques, you’re teaching your child how to follow directions, how to cope with frustration, and how to understand the consequences of their actions—all while maintaining a positive, nurturing relationship. You’ll find that with practice, both you and your child will feel more confident and secure in your interactions.

FAQs

  • PCIT is effective for children between the ages of 2 and 7 who are struggling with challenging behaviors. It's especially helpful for families dealing with issues like:

    • Temper tantrums

    • Aggression (hitting, biting, etc.)

    • Defiance or noncompliance

    • Difficulty following instructions

    • Anxiety or emotional outbursts

    • Impulsivity or hyperactivity

    • Parent-child relationship difficulties

    If you’re a parent who feels frustrated, overwhelmed, or unsure how to handle these behaviors, PCIT can give you the tools and confidence you need to make lasting changes. This therapy is designed to empower parents by providing clear guidance and practical skills to improve both behavior and the overall parent-child connection.

  • While PCIT can be extremely helpful for many families, there are some situations where it might not be the best fit. PCIT is most effective for children under 8 years old who are dealing with behavioral concerns, but it’s not the right approach for every situation. Here are a few examples of when PCIT might not be appropriate:

    • Severe developmental delays or intellectual disabilities: If your child has significant cognitive delays or is not able to understand basic instructions, other forms of therapy may be more appropriate.

    • Severe trauma or abuse: If your child has experienced severe trauma or abuse, PCIT may need to be combined with other trauma-focused therapies for a more comprehensive treatment plan.

    • Substance abuse or parental mental health concerns: If parents are struggling with substance use or significant mental health concerns, PCIT may not be effective until those issues are addressed. In such cases, it may be helpful to seek therapy for the parents first, before beginning PCIT with the child.

  • PCIT with Ashley takes place over zoom. She will coach you through all the phases of PCIT in your own home and the child’s natural environment.

  • To learn more about Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), visit the PCIT International website, which offers comprehensive resources, training opportunities, and information on how the therapy works. The site also provides access to a network of certified therapists and detailed guidance for parents looking to implement PCIT techniques with their children.