Parent-Child Interaction Therapy Postdoctoral Training

• I-PCIT-Telehealth online 
• Mailman Center for Child Development
• ConnectFamilias in Little Havana

Full-time caseloads range from 16 to 18 cases per week. Appointments are scheduled Monday-Thursday from 8:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Fellows typically work two later evenings per week to accommodate family requests for later afternoon appointments. Make-up sessions are conducted on Fridays.

The University of Miami Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (UM PCIT) program provides FREE evidence-based parent training to families with children ages 2 to 7. The program primarily serves children referred for disruptive behavior problems or parents who have physically abused their children. Trainees, who do not have prior PCIT experience, receive training in accordance with the PCIT International Training guidelines and are paired with a postdoctoral fellow/licensed psychologist as a co-therapist on some cases. Beyond serving as a co-therapist, trainees (unless serving in a supervisor role) are responsible for all clinical documentation (e.g., progress notes, intake reports). Trainees receive live supervision from licensed psychologists. Further, the clinical director provides monthly group supervision/training, which includes case discussion, practicing of coaching skills, and video review of sessions. It is expected that individuals who join this rotation commit to completing the full course of PCIT training to ensure that they will be able to meet qualifications for PCIT certification for therapist or within-agency trainer by the end of the training year. We provide specialty training and services related to telehealth delivery of services, PCIT for Spanish-speaking families, PCIT for children with ASD, and PCIT-CALM for children with anxiety. 

PCIT has session level data with over 400 participants. We are open to discussions about how to proceed with studies related to existing data sets. Our research team specifically focuses on strategies (e.g., technology enhancements, time-limited approaches, and inclusion of community health workers) to increase the reach and efficiency of PCIT services to racially and ethnically diverse families in South Florida. Opportunities for co-authoring or first author manuscript submissions are strongly encouraged and supported on the team. 

The PCIT team is primarily comprised of psychologists and mental health counseling professionals. Pediatric medical residents and other allied health professionals periodically attend sessions to learn through observation and discussion. Further, the team typically interacts with the child’s other service/learning systems to provide coordination of care and/or consultation (e.g., teachers, speech and language pathologists, audiologists).

Assessments

• Cultural Formulation Clinical Interview
  
• Broad-band and narrow-band behavioral screening
  
• Family risk factor screening
  
• Observation of Parent-Child Interactions
  
• Weekly progress monitoring
  
• For children with ASD or suspected, additional ASD-specific testing is completed.

Treatment

• Conducting time-limited Parent-Child Interaction Therapy services.
  
• Conducting time-limited CALM services for young children with anxiety.

Consultations

• Conduct parent consultations after CDI Teach and PDI homework assignments to promote treatment engagement and quality practice.
  
• Conduct consultations with other professionals working with the child as indicated by family need.
• If the family is currently involved with child welfare, the therapist may participate in multidisciplinary staffing.

Type and Frequency of Training and Supervision Provided

• 20-hour initial PCIT Training Institute. First month- First 5 Fridays
  
• Monthly two-hour training.10 months-  First Fridays of the month.
  
• Bi-weekly group case discussion or staff community of practice
  
• Live supervision through co-therapy
  
• Video review of key sessions for competency
  
• Skill role plays
  
• Group/individual supervision

• Opportunities exist for supervising interns and practicum students (contingent upon prior PCIT experiences and trainee schedule)