Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) offers a loving and disciplined approach to parenting skills that strikes a balance between positive behavior and nurturing discipline. This therapy is focused on children up to age eight.

PCIT is a proven parent training system. The parent(s) is coached in real-time by a certified professional, through an ear piece while interacting with their child/ children. This highly effective strategy allows the parent to receive instant feedback to their parenting tactics. Mary C. Pratt is the most experienced private practitioner of PCIT in Orange County, CA.

Other serivces:
Anxiety
Grief and loss
Teen issues
Traditional family therapy

 

 

 

 

 

 

Treatment Goals

"To work collaboratively with parents to solve common and uncommon child behavior concerns.  From simple misbehaviors that disrupt the home, to more severe behavior issues that limit the child in school and social environments"

This process addresses many important areas.  Here are a few:

• Tantrums
• Difficult behaviors related to Autism
• Misbehavior at school
• Sibling fighting
• Disrespect
• Poor listening
• Effective discipline

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How it Works

Working together with parents, Mary assesses the family’s needs for helping with unwanted behaviors.  Once assessment is complete the parents work with Mary through a progressive coaching plan that educates the parents on key skills to help improve behavior. 

Using a unique process where parents conduct special play time with their child, Mary coaches them in a “hands-on” environment through an earpiece from behind a one way mirror.  This live interaction guides them in “real-time” to practice new effective skills for correcting misbehavior. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About Mary C. Pratt, LCSW

• Mary has worked closely with parents and their children for nearly 20 years.  She approaches each parent child relationship as a unique opportunity to work with parents on the relationship with their children and to create a loving lasting bond between parent and child.
• Mary opened the first private practice to offer Parent Child Interaction Training to parents in Orange County, and has been doing so for 5 years. 
• Mary is a certified Parent Child Interaction Training provider through UC Davis and has trained many of the other PCIT providers in Southern California.
• Mary has her Masters in Social Work from Cal State Long Beach and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker

"With a little help parents can eliminate problem behavior before it gets worse."

 

 

 

PCIT Treats

Parents looking for help with a wide range of behaviors have had success utilizing PCIT.  Whether you are trying to get cooperation at bedtime, or you are dealing with misbehavior related to special conditions like autism, PCIT can help.

Here are some of the many behavior issues treated at HOP

• Defiance
• Sass
• Aggression
• Tantrums
• Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD)
• Mild Autism
• Separation Anxiety
• Refusal to follow directions
• Sibling fighting
• Diagnosis of ADHD

 

Who is it for?

• Hands On Parenting and PCIT are for parents who are experiencing behavior issues that are relatively minor up to major concerns that are affecting the family and the child. 
• A Parent may need help with something like effective bedtime routines, or there may be more serious behavior concerns that present long term issues for the child in a learning or social environment.
• PCIT is intended to work with children under the age of 12.  The most common age group treated at Hands On Parenting is children under the age of 6.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research PCIT

PCIT research clearly shows how highly effective this form of treatment is. PCIT has a well documented history of helping to restore relationships and behavior in even the most difficult of cases.  Although most of the research has been done in severe behavioral cases, it demonstrates how effective these skills are for a wide range of behaviors.

• Article: The power of positive syncing
• PCIT Training
• Effectiveness of PCIT
• PCIT Factsheet
• Child Welfare PCIT Info
• Institute for Family Development
• SpringerLink Journal Article

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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