PCIT, anyone familiar?

luvmybaby28

we spoke to someone who said this is the best, research-based approach for behavior issues in toddlers.  We were going to meet with a psychologist to discuss this approach.

luvmybaby28

-auntie-:

PCIT can be a powerful tool for children with mental health and behavioral issues if the parents follow the protocol exactly.

My guess is that if you don't like ABA, you won't like PCIT either. There is quite a bit of physical redirection and restraint associated with this program which involves forced time outs, isolation and seclusion.

Here's a review of one of the books describing the protocol-

Any parenting procedure that depends on forcing a child as young as 2 into a locked time out room for failing to keep 51% of his body mass in a chair is in my opinion inappropriate. In my opinion as a psychologist, special educator and parent, children should not be restrained for noncompliance, only when it is necessary to keep him/her and others safe--such as during an outburst of physical aggression. If a parenting technique can not be used on any child that can not be physically forced into a room or chair (PCIT is not recommended for a child too big to be forced into a locked time out room, thus children ages 2-7), thats a sign that it depends upon physical coercion. There are other effective behavior therapy techniques for managing severe misbehavior that do not depend on physical coercion to work but emphasize positive reinforcement and skills training (e.g. Parent Management Training). Though I do not doubt that the proponents of this technique sincerely intend to do right by children,I can not support this practice. I would advise parents to get The Kazdin Method by Alan Kazdin or The Explosive Child by Ross Greene 

wow auntie, thanks so much for the reply, this is definitely not what I had in mind.  I thought that it would be more in line with floortime than aba.  Though I was reading a review of the floortime book and someone mentioned that it doesn't really deal with behaviors as much as engaging with play.

The only issue we are currently having, on and off, is with transitions.  My lo's speech has completely exploded which is amazing, but now he will just verbalize why he is upset: when leaving the pet store, "more animals please, more dogs and parrots!" - but this is said while crying and getting so upset.  He will definitely use his words when upset which is helping, but he still gets so upset when fun things come to a close.

It feels as though the group he was attending was helping in terms of moving from activity to activity with the picture schedule, but still not so great if the activity is very preferred.  I also do not feel like the group translates into everyday situations when we leave fun places, so it doesn't seem so valuable.