Symposia
Child / Adolescent - Trauma / Maltreatment
Robin H. Gurwitch, Ph.D.
Professor
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, North Carolina
Robin H. Gurwitch, Ph.D.
Professor
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, North Carolina
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) has long been recognized as one of the strongest evidence-based treatments for young children. The Kaufman Foundation Report cited PCIT as one of the three best practices for children with a history of maltreatment. PCIT consistently receives the highest ratings and endorsements for this evidence-based treatment. Recently, the Families First Prevention Services Act identified PCIT as one of the only programs approved for use with young children by agencies receiving Title IV-E monies. PCIT has a long history of effectiveness for children with a history of trauma, yet agencies, stakeholders, families and even therapists continue to push-back on its efficacy as a trauma treatment. Many PCIT therapists report addressing trauma in “their own way,” which does not allow for replication in research studies or consistency in implementation across providers. In a recent survey, PCIT therapists support the inclusion of a trauma module to traditional PCIT treatment. The Trauma Directed Interaction (TDI) module for PCIT was developed to address trauma symptoms in both the child and their caregiver(s). This presentation will provide a brief overview of the module and discuss preliminary findings in an effectiveness trial. Next steps for the TDI module in PCIT will be provided.