Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from KC PCIT, Mental Health Service, 10551 Barkley, Overland Park, KS.
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is a short-term, specialized behavior management program designed for young children experiencing behavioral and/or emotional difficulties and their families.
10/29/2025
This Halloween, remind your child that it’s brave to talk about what scares them, whether it’s the dark, new situations, or big feelings.
Bravery isn’t about not being scared — it’s about feeling scared and trying anyway. 💪🦇
10/22/2025
10/21/2025
10/14/2025
Changing one simple word can make a difference in how we connect with our kids.
10/09/2025
Parent Management Training (PMT) teaches parents specific strategies to manage their child’s behavior, rather than therapy that focuses ONLY on the child.
PCIT is a structured PMT program delivered live, with real-time coaching, which sets it apart from many other parent training programs.
10/07/2025
10/01/2025
10/01/2025
Happy Birthday to Lisa Polka!
09/26/2025
Finding ways to have fun and connect with kids is important at every age!
09/23/2025
PCIT for Older Children is based on the same strategies as typical PCIT, but adjusted to be developmentally appropriate for older children. Interested in learning whether this powerful intervention could benefit your family? Visit us on our website kcpcit.com
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Jennifer Jackson-Rice, LSCSW, LCSW & Julie Gettings, LCSW, LSCSW are Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Workers with 20 years of experience working with children and families. They both received their training through years of work at Children's Mercy Hospital. Julie and Jennifer are both certified in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), an effective, evidence-based treatment.
WHAT IS PCIT?
PCIT is a short-term, specialized behavior management program designed for young children experiencing behavioral and/or emotional difficulties and their families. PCIT teaches caregivers to manage their child’s difficult behaviors, while increasing their positive behaviors. PCIT works with the child and caregiver together to improve behavior and reduce parenting stress.
PCIT consists of weekly sessions conducted in two treatment phases:
CHILD DIRECTED INTERACTION (CDI): Caregivers are taught the PRIDE skills: Praise, Reflect, Imitate, Describe and Enjoyment. These skills promote positive child behaviors and improves the quality of the parent-child relationship. In CDI, parents learn to follow their child’s lead in play and provide positive attention combined with active ignoring of misbehaviors. They learn the importance of avoiding commands, questions, criticism and sarcasm.
PARENT DIRECTED INTERACTION (PDI): Caregivers learn to use effective commands and consistent follow through. PDI focus includes praise for compliance and a timeout procedure for noncompliance. The PCIT therapist helps caregivers manage their child’s behaviors in many settings.
HOW DOES PCIT WORK?
PCIT is an exceptionally effective treatment backed by over 30 years of research. Live coaching is a hallmark of PCIT. The therapist observes the caregiver and child interactions through play, then provide coaching on the PCIT skills through a “bug-in-the-ear” system. The advantage of live coaching are skills are acquired more rapidly by caregivers, as they practice in the moment. Therapist provide caring support as caregivers gain confidence and master skills. Caregivers receive immediate feedback about strategies to manage the child’s challenging behaviors. At the conclusion of each therapy session, therapist and caregivers decide which skills to focus on during daily five minute home practice. Five minute daily home practice is important to PCIT treatment progress and caregivers mastery of skills.
WHO IS PCIT FOR?
Children ages 2 to 7 who display any or all of the following:
Parent-child relational problems
Refusal and defiance of adult requests
Easy loss of temper
Purposeful annoyance of others
Destruction of property
Difficulty staying seated
Difficulty playing quietly
Difficulty taking turns
Difficulty with mealtime behaviors and feeding difficulties
