Clear Minded Counseling

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy with Toddlers, or PCIT-T, is an adaptation to PCIT that aims to meet the unique developmental needs of toddlers ages 12 to 24 months presenting with behavioral concerns. It can be used for toddlers slightly older or younger based on a child's development. PCIT-T focuses on areas of social and emotional development, including emotion regulation, behavior management, teaching listening skills, and promoting language. Treatment has been successful for a variety of concerns such as tantrums, separation anxiety, and language issues.

Since we know that children learn best through play, the entire intervention takes place in play-based  interactions between the parent and their toddler. You and your toddler will be in a playroom while the therapist is in an observation room watching you interact with your toddler through a one-way mirror. You wear a "bug-in-the-ear" device through which the therapist provides in-the-moment coaching on skills you are learning to respond to your child when they become emotionally dysregulated and to manage their behaviors.
 

PCIT-T is done across two treatment phases. The first phase of treatment focuses on establishing warmth in your relationship with your toddler, promotes positive child behaviors and emotion regulation, and helps caregivers manage their child's big emotions in many settings. During the second phase of treatment caregivers encourage language development as well as learn how to teach listening skills to their toddler through Tell-Show-Try Again-Guide.

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With consistent attendance and homework completion, PCIT-T can be completed within 12-18 sessions, though treatment is not time-limited. Unlike PCIT, PCIT-T sessions occur twice per week due to toddler's short recall. Treatment is considered complete when you have mastered both sets of skills and rate your child's behavior within normal limits on a behavior rating scale.

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