Parent-child interaction therapy: The rewards and challenges of a group format

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is an evidence-based treatment for young children with severe behavior problems. Typically, it is individually administered to families by a therapist and a cotherapist. However, converting PCIT to a group format can be a cost-effective way to reach a larger number of families in need of treatment. In addition, PCIT offers techniques to facilitate parents' skill development and generalization of skills that are not commonly used in group parent training programs. This article has multiple goals: (a) to review the structure of a group PCIT program, (b) to discuss the empirical rationale for use of the program, and (c) to provide a case example that illustrates the rewards and challenges of group PCIT.