Coaching that happens in the moment, not after the fact

Most parenting help arrives as advice: try this, be consistent, stay calm. Then you go home, the meltdown starts, and the advice evaporates.

PCIT works differently. You and your child play together in our therapy room while a clinician watches from the next room and coaches you through an earpiece, in real time, as things unfold. When your child does something well, you hear what to say. When behavior escalates, you hear exactly how to respond. You're not remembering a technique. You're practicing it, with support, until it becomes yours.

Who it's for

PCIT is designed for children roughly ages 2 to 7 and one or more caregivers. Families come to us for tantrums that won't stop, aggression toward siblings or classmates, defiance that has made ordinary days exhausting, and difficulty following directions. It also helps children who have been through something hard, and families working to rebuild trust and connection.

Any adult in a parenting role can participate: parents, grandparents, foster and adoptive parents, stepparents.

How it works

PCIT has two phases.

In the first, you'll build warmth and connection through child-led play, learning skills that increase your child's sense of security and cooperation before you ask anything of them. In the second, you'll learn to give clear directions and follow through consistently, so limits hold without escalation.

You move from the first phase to the second when you're ready, not on a fixed schedule. We track your progress at every session, so you can see the change rather than take our word for it.

What to expect

Sessions are weekly and last about an hour. Most families finish in 14 to 20 sessions. You'll practice at home between visits, usually about five minutes a day.