Benefits of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy

Have you ever dealt with a particularly difficult child and his or her behaviors?

If you have, then you know how especially frustrating it can be. Even if the child did not belong to you, you can likely admit how tiresome it can be to try to correct these difficult behaviors on your own.

But that is why we have identified the importance of a form of therapy known as parent-child interaction therapy.

This form of therapy can be especially helpful for children who are struggling with behavioral issues.

The following are common ways in which parent-child interaction therapy is most helpful:

Building Self-Esteem

Because parent-child interaction therapy particularly deals with addressing difficult behaviors in children, it can be said that this form of therapy deals with children with self-esteem problems.

Many children who utilize parent-child interaction therapy have either anxiety disorders or ADHD.

So if therapists help the children build their self-esteem, then they may feel more accepted, valuable, and worthwhile than they did before.

In turn, children will likely be less distracting, aggressive, or impulsive, and able to change their behaviors far more easily.

They will also be able to implement social skills far more effectively.

Typically, children who have ADHD have low self-esteem or self-worth because they receive so much negative feedback on a daily basis.

Parents may intentionally or unintentionally accuse their children of misbehaving or purposely causing distress.

So, if the effects of parent-child interaction therapy are properly employed, then children will generally develop a more positive view of themselves.

Therefore, children's behaviors will likely become much less disruptive in classrooms or in daily life in general.

They'll be much more cooperative and compliant to requests that are asked of them.

One aspect of parent-child interaction therapy, "CDI," entails that children have the ability to choose without too much direction or questioning from parents.

Giving a child the appropriate amount of praise in parent-child interaction therapy causes children to feel a much stronger sense of self-esteem and self-worth.

It will ultimately help the child to feel much more confident and less anxious.

Develop Stronger Communication Skills

Cases in which parent-child interaction therapy is utilized can most definitely improve communication between parents and children.

During therapeutic sessions, the therapist will likely encourage children to choose the activities or toys that are suitable for them while still under the supervision of the therapist.

Communication regarding the toys or activities from the parents is then encouraged by the therapist.

In this form of therapy, parents are also told to disregard any behaviors that might be disruptive, but not too destructive toward others.

Parents are informed that they ought to avoid using words that might sound negative or discouraging, such as "don't" or "can't." As a result, communication between parents and children will likely be much clearer and more effective.

Increased Playfulness and Exploration

With the implementation of parent-child interaction therapy, children will most likely be encouraged to play and explore their environments on their own, especially during therapy sessions with parents.

Although parents are encouraged to be playful with their children during parent-child interaction therapy sessions, they can still utilize commands, as long as they are indirect.

Parents are discouraged from making commands that are too direct.

They're also discouraged from asking too many questions or making any criticisms of their children.

During playtime, parents are requested to make indirect commands or hidden questions.

Such examples include, "Let's play with the cars" instead of "Give me the cars."You could also say, "Would you clean up the cars?" Instead of "Clean up the cars."

The reason that therapists encourage hidden questions and indirect commands during parent-child interaction therapy is so the process of play can be much more engaging and enjoyable for children.

It also places less pressure on children to comply with parents' requests.

Child-directed play is designed to be both enjoyable and interactive, so it is not always appropriate to use direct questions or commands during this process.

Help Set Boundaries and Limitations

In any type of parent-child relationship, it is important to establish a sense of authority so that boundaries can be set, as well as a proper sense of discipline.

In parent-child interaction therapy, parents are typically encouraged to discipline their children in a way that is firm, yet calm.

As a result of boundary setting with your children, you'll likely be able to help them understand what it means to set limits.

You'll also be able to help your children understand the importance of mutual trust and respect in any kind of relationship.

By setting boundaries and expectations for your children, you'll be able to help them to understand how to properly behave around others, especially in a classroom setting.

Parent-child interaction therapy usually has a variety of positive consequences on children, especially when it comes to setting boundaries and limitations.

Some of them include lesser amounts of aggression or hostility, not as much destructive behavior, improvement when it comes to obeying rules and requests, and the ability to remain calm and collected when listening to parental or authority figures.

It is especially important for you as a parent to set guidelines for your children.

Setting consequences for both positive and negative behavior can go a long way.

It will ultimately help your children to maintain a sense of self-control and stability, especially when it comes to complying with behavior regulations in the classroom.

Conclusion

Although parent-child interaction therapy may not be effective or useful for all cases of behavioral problems that arise, it is very beneficial for children who struggle with mental health issues like anxiety or ADHD.

This method of therapy may help parents to see what they are doing correctly or incorrectly in terms of disciplining their children.

In terms of building self-esteem, parent-child interaction therapy can help children to feel far more at home or at peace within themselves.

It can also help them to effectively develop communication skills, whether at home or in school.

Parent-child interaction therapy can develop a much stronger sense of boundaries and limitations with both the parents and children in the relationship and can also enhance children's sense of play.

Overall, parent-child interaction therapy is very useful when it comes to understanding children with problematic behaviors.

It can help children to effectively overcome them and to engage more with their parents, as well as with the world around them.

Resources 

https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/types/parent-child-interaction-therapy

https://ct.counseling.org/2019/03/parent-child-interaction-therapy-for-adhd-and-anxiety-disorders/

https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/71097

https://www.child-psych.org/parent-child-interaction-therapy-pcit/