Why Should I Change the Way I Parent?
Parent's Point: How I Decided That My Child Needed Additional Help
Parents often ask why they must change their behaviors for their child’s behavior to improve. The reality is improving parenting skills is the best way to improve children’s behavior problems. The take home message here is that YOU, the parent, are the most important ingredient to your child’s success. While it may not feel like it at times, you are the most important and influential person in your child’s life. We just want you to take a moment to think about how amazing it is that you are so important in someone’s life. It is an incredible honor and you have a unique opportunity to help mold your child’s future.
PCIT teaches parents relationship-building skills that are like those used by a play therapist. What differs in PCIT is that we teach you, the parent, to use these skills with your own child. While a play therapist would only be with your child for about an hour a week, you are with your child far more often than that. This gives you, the parent, many chances to practice these skills with your child! If a therapist was to work with just your child for one hour a week without you present, the therapist could improve your child’s behavior for that one hour. However, this would not result in big improvements in your child’s behavior once the therapist returned your child to you. Within Pocket PCIT, you will learn skills to improve your child’s behaviors at home and in public places (e.g., restaurants, grocery stores).
Most parents that try out PCIT have already tried out several strategies to improve their child’s behavior. They rely on how they were raised by their own parents. They read parenting books. They get advice from other parents, doctors, religious organizations, blogs, and the internet. Quite frankly, there are tons of great ideas and strategies out there about how to raise your children. In fact, many of the things you will learn during Pocket PCIT may look a lot like parenting skills you have already tried or heard about.
You will learn to work together with your child in new and wonderful ways. As you begin to practice these skills, you will naturally begin to use these skills as part of your daily routines with your child. In this way, we have seen many families make positive life-changes through our PCIT program.
PCIT teaches parents relationship-building skills that are like those used by a play therapist. What differs in PCIT is that we teach you, the parent, to use these skills with your own child. While a play therapist would only be with your child for about an hour a week, you are with your child far more often than that. This gives you, the parent, many chances to practice these skills with your child! If a therapist was to work with just your child for one hour a week without you present, the therapist could improve your child’s behavior for that one hour. However, this would not result in big improvements in your child’s behavior once the therapist returned your child to you. Within Pocket PCIT, you will learn skills to improve your child’s behaviors at home and in public places (e.g., restaurants, grocery stores).
Most parents that try out PCIT have already tried out several strategies to improve their child’s behavior. They rely on how they were raised by their own parents. They read parenting books. They get advice from other parents, doctors, religious organizations, blogs, and the internet. Quite frankly, there are tons of great ideas and strategies out there about how to raise your children. In fact, many of the things you will learn during Pocket PCIT may look a lot like parenting skills you have already tried or heard about.
You will learn to work together with your child in new and wonderful ways. As you begin to practice these skills, you will naturally begin to use these skills as part of your daily routines with your child. In this way, we have seen many families make positive life-changes through our PCIT program.