6400 Brooktree Court, Suite 320, Wexford, PA 15090 412-419-3490 Fax: 1-888-974-5972

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) in Wexford, PA

A short-term, evidence-based therapy that helps parents of young children turn everyday power struggles into connection. A certified therapist coaches you live — in real time — as you interact with your child, giving you practical tools that actually work.

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What is PCIT?

Parent–Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is a short-term, evidence-based treatment for young children and their caregivers. In PCIT, parents learn specific skills while a trained therapist coaches them live — in the moment — as they interact with their child. The focus is on strengthening the parent–child relationship and giving parents practical, effective tools to manage challenging behavior.

At Clarity, PCIT is provided by our PCIT-certified clinician, JoAnn Snyder, LPC.

Who is PCIT for?

PCIT is designed mainly for young children (commonly ages 2–7) who show:

Frequent tantrums, hitting, biting, or aggressive behavior
Difficulty following simple directions
Trouble calming down or regulating emotions
Disruptive behavior that affects home, daycare, or school

It's ideal for families ready to be active participants — parents (or other primary caregivers) do the work, both in sessions and at home. PCIT can also be adapted in some cases for children a bit younger or older, or for children with autism or anxiety, though those are specialized adaptations we'll talk through with you.

How It Works

Two phases, guided by live coaching

PCIT unfolds in two phases, both built around live coaching — your therapist observes and gives real-time guidance as you play and interact with your child (through a small earpiece in the office, or over telehealth). Instead of only talking about skills, you practice them in real interactions, so they carry over to everyday life quickly.

01

Assessment & baseline

We begin with an intake, brief interviews, and observation of how you and your child interact — using standardized tools to understand the behavior, set clear goals, and measure progress along the way.
02

Child-Directed Interaction (CDI)

First, you build a warm, responsive relationship through play by following your child's lead. You'll practice the core skills known as PRIDE — Praise, Reflection, Imitation, Description, and Enjoyment — learning to “catch” your child doing something positive and increase good behavior. Your therapist coaches you until these skills feel natural and consistent.
03

Parent-Directed Interaction (PDI)

Once the relationship is stronger, you learn clear, calm commands, consistent consequences, and safe time-out procedures to manage noncompliance — with your therapist coaching you to give effective directions and follow through calmly. Throughout, we track change with repeated observations, so progress is objective and visible to your family.

What to expect — and what the research shows

PCIT is mastery-based, not strictly time-based — treatment continues until you've demonstrated the skills and your behavior goals are met. For most families, that looks like:

Weekly sessions, about 50–60 minutes each
Often 10–20 sessions total (many families finish in roughly 12–16)
Short daily home practice — about 10–20 minutes of structured play, where most of the change happens

Developed by psychologist Dr. Sheila Eyberg and refined over decades of research, PCIT is one of the most well-researched treatments for early-childhood disruptive behavior. Studies consistently show large, reliable reductions in tantrums, aggression, and noncompliance; more confident, less-stressed parents; warmer parent–child interactions and better emotion regulation; and gains that often carry over to school and other settings — frequently within weeks.

What success looks like

You'll be doing the work — learning and practicing skills while getting immediate feedback — and most parents find it empowering, because the tools are practical and show quick results. Most children enjoy the positive play and improved attention, and as you use the skills consistently, disruptive episodes usually become less frequent and shorter. Over time, success looks like:

Fewer and shorter tantrums or aggressive incidents
Better cooperation with clear directions
More positive, calm interactions between you and your child
You feeling confident, consistent, and less stressed as a caregiver

Common Questions

PCIT, answered

Do both caregivers need to attend?

It's best if both primary caregivers can participate when possible — consistency helps a lot. If that's not possible, we still include whoever is most consistent with the child.

What if other caregivers (grandparents, daycare) don't use the same approach?

We can provide guidance and handouts so other caregivers can follow the same routines. The more consistent the approach across settings, the better the results.

Is PCIT harsh or punitive?

No. PCIT emphasizes positive attention, clear directions, and consistent, calm consequences. Discipline is structured and predictable — never shaming or punitive.

Will my child be “studied” or judged?

No. Observations are simply used to guide treatment and measure progress. The goal is to help — not to label or blame you or your child.

What if my child has trauma, developmental delays, or other diagnoses?

PCIT has adaptations and can be used alongside other therapies, though sometimes additional or different services are recommended. We'll talk through what fits your child during the assessment.

How do we get started?

Contact our office for an initial screening or intake. We'll complete a brief assessment, explain whether PCIT is a good fit, and — if it's recommended — schedule weekly sessions and set you up for live coaching, in office or by telehealth.

Real tools, real coaching, real change with your child.

Reach out to see whether PCIT is the right fit for your family. We'd be glad to walk you through it.