Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) or Play Therapy: What Does My Child Need?
Sometimes parenting our children takes a village and a licensed mental health provider. But how do parents know what type of therapy is needed? Child therapy is based on the developmental age of a child and the reason for seeking therapy. I am here to share the difference between PCIT and Play Therapy, the two most common therapies for children and adolescents. Together with the therapist, parents can decide what therapeutic intervention is best.
The Basics Quick Guide
Behavior Specifics
PCIT targets behaviors such as:
Tantrums
Not following directions
Negative attention seeking behaviors (such as whining and bossiness)
Difficulty sharing with others
Lack of attachment/bond with parent
Poor self-esteem
Play Therapy targets social, emotional, and behavior problems such as:
Anger management
Grief and loss
Divorce and abandonment
Crisis and trauma
Anxiety
Depression
Attention deficit hyperactivity (ADHD)
Bullying
Transitions
Abuse and neglect
Violence
Natural disasters
The Outcome of PCIT
When families meet mastery and complete PCIT, parents will have a better relationship with their child and less behavior problems. PCIT is an evidence-based program that incorporates two phases. The first phase builds on the parent-child relationship and the second phase provides strategies to manage a child’s challenging behavior. To learn more about how PCIT works, check out our blog “What Is PCIT”.
The Outcome of Play Therapy
Play is a way of self-expression for children. Through play, children can reveal what they experienced, react to what was experienced, show feelings of what was experienced, express their wishes, wants, or needs, and reveal the perception of self. Through play therapy, the child can gain self-confidence, regulate emotions, modify behavior, relieve stress, learn to experience and express emotions, develop respect and acceptance of others, and learn social skills.
Lori Cull-Deshmukh,
LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker),