Parent-Child Interaction Therapy

This program is designed specifically to reduce the risk of child maltreatment. PCIT is an empirically-based treatment for abused children and parents involved in the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (IDCFS) that are at high-risk for abusing and/or neglecting their child(ren) or have a finding of abuse and/or neglect in court.

Initially targeted to families with children between the ages of 2 and 7 with oppositional, defiant, and other externalizing problems, PCIT has been adapted successfully to serve physically abusive parents of children ages 4 to 12. Goals are to change the negative parent-caregiver/child patterns of interaction, improve the quality of the parent-caregiver/child relationship, decrease child behavior problems and increase prosocial behaviors, improve parenting skills, and decrease parenting stress.

Dr. Tiffany Masson speaks about Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)

High-Risk Parent Training

The program is designed specifically to reduce the risk of child maltreatment. Psychoeducation workshops address factors and events that shape participants’ parenting style that put them at risk for child maltreatment.  Further, workshops focus on child development, empathy building, and advocacy; factors that help parents better understand the unique needs of their children, prioritize their children’s needs ahead of their own, as well as learn how to seek out assistance on behalf of their children. The program is for adult and teen parents. The adult program includes workshops with an anger management component.

Goals are to improve parental self-confidence, indentify personal at-risk factors for child maltreatment, develop effective coping strategies to reduce the risk of child maltreatment, increase knowledge base regarding child development, and enhance communication skills with child-related systems (e.g., schools, therapist, child welfare agencies, and hospitals).

How to get involved:

Course Descriptions

Clinical Interventions

FO666 B: Community Interventions in Forensic Mental Health II: PCIT

PCIT is an empirically-based treatment for children and parents that are at high-risk for abusing and/or neglecting their child(ren) or have a finding of abuse and/or neglect in court. With an instructor, students will learn to address specific issues often found in abused children and at-risk parent-child dyads through the use of live supervision and direct individualized therapist coaching (e.g., use of an ear-bug system and one-way mirror).

FO666 C: Community Interventions in Forensic Mental Health II: High-Risk Parent Training

High-Risk Parent Training is designed to reduce the risk of child maltreatment. Students will learn about curriculum development and group dynamics. With an instructor, students will co-facilitate a series of structured psychoeducation groups that focus on child development, empathy building, problem solving, and personal advocacy factors that help parents to better understand the unique needs of their children and build their self-confidence.