About the session
Dr. Larissa Niec presents Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), a transdiagnostic, family-based intervention with robust empirical support. Designed for families with children aged 2 to 7, PCIT aims to strengthen the parent–child relationship, improve parenting practices, and reduce disruptive behaviours.
Dr Niec will explain the theoretical foundations of PCIT and describe the intervention’s hallmark feature: live, in vivo coaching of parents during real-time interactions with their children. The session also explores PCIT’s global implementation and its impact on reducing child maltreatment risk and buffering the effects of poverty on brain development.
Ideal for clinicians seeking to enhance their work with young children and families, this session offers valuable insights into a well-established, evidence-based intervention.
Dr. Niec explains that the theoretical foundations of PCIT draw from both attachment theory and behavioral principles. Attachment theory underscores the importance of the early caregiver-child bond, while behavioral theory informs the intervention’s active mechanisms of change. A key component of PCIT is live, in vivo coaching: therapists guide parents in real-time via an earpiece during parent-child interactions. This coaching employs behavioral techniques such as modeling, shaping, and reinforcement, tailored to each family’s specific needs.
Now implemented in over 22 countries across North and South America, Europe, Australia, and Asia, PCIT has demonstrated global adaptability and effectiveness. This session offers an overview of the PCIT model, its robust empirical foundation, and the core components that contribute to its transdiagnostic application.
The session
This recording of the webinar and slides is only available for delegates, access cannot be given to those who did not purchase tickets before the event.
Interactive overview
Use the interactive programme below to gain an overview of the topic, meet the speaker, test your knowledge, and a whole lot more!
About the speaker
Dr. Larissa N. Niec is Professor of Counseling Psychology at the University of Wisconsin and President of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) International. As an expert in early parent-child relationships and therapist training, Dr. Niec seeks to increase access to quality mental health care for underserved families around the world. Dr. Niec is involved in national and international efforts to disseminate effective treatments to community therapists. She has written extensively on the parent-child relationship and on adaptations to Parent-Child Interaction Therapy. Her international collaborations include work in Chile, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Spain, among others. Dr. Niec is author of a number of books including, Handbook of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy: Innovations and Applications for Research and Practice (2018); Strengthening the Parent-Child Relationship in Therapy: Laying the Foundation for Healthy Development (2022); and Telemental Health Care for Children and Families (2024, with Ciera Schoonover).