When a Virtual Session Is The First Choice: Why PCIT Functions Best Remotely

We’re strong proponents of virtual PCIT. Here’s why.

Corporate meetings. Local book clubs. Doctor’s appointments. Before 2020, most of us never imagined doing any of this stuff from home. But since the COVID-19 pandemic, meeting virtually has become a viable option for all kinds of formerly face-to-face interactions. 

Even so, we’re used to thinking of online as second best; a concession to convenience with clear drawbacks. So as a parent who’s seeking the very best care for your family, you may wonder why, at PCIT Experts, we prefer to conduct treatment virtually. After all, you’re investing money and time in the important work of learning to change your child’s behavior and improve your family dynamic — wouldn’t it be better to do that with a provider in the same room? It’s counterintuitive, but the answer is actually no.

Here’s why, as experts in the field, we recommend virtual PCIT. 

First, a little thought experiment. Imagine you’re a student working with a tutor. During your meetings, with the tutor’s hands-on help, you feel confident that you can figure out a tough assignment. But afterwards, back at home, you’re unable to replicate that feeling and get frustrated when you try. 

Now picture you’re in an exercise class. The instructor comes over to show you exactly how to improve your form, and with her clear explanation, you nail it! But later, alone in the gym, you just can’t get it right. 

Ok, back to reality. In those scenarios, you lost your way once you left the learning environment. Within the session, you could clearly see how to improve, but back in your own world, you couldn’t accurately recall it. PCIT is similar. It teaches new approaches for responding to your child’s actions — but if  you learn them in the controlled environment of your provider’s office, they may be more difficult to pull up once you’re back home, enmeshed in your regular patterns and routines and struggling through a tough parenting moment. 

Enter: virtual PCIT. In virtual sessions, practitioners get the benefit of observing parent and child interact in their own home, with their real-life stressors present. For example, let’s say a child throws a tantrum every time their parent turns off the TV. In a virtual session, a provider is able to observe that interaction in the patient’s living room with their real TV. Then, speaking through headphones, the provider can coach the parent through a productive response. The parent is more able to retain those tactics and repeat them the next time the TV goes off and the emotional temperature heats up. With those tools more easily accessible, improvements are made more quickly. 

Common Concerns

When we propose virtual PCIT, we often hear from parents who are worried that their younger children will struggle to engage directly with a therapist online. And although that’s a valid concern with other types of therapy, when it comes to PCIT, a child who’s less aware of the provider is actually an advantage. 

The goal of PCIT is to coach parents on using play therapy techniques with their child. When it’s done virtually, the therapist’s physical absence leaves the child space to build a stronger connection with their parent. To use a sports analogy, the therapist is a coach, not a player — and, together on the field, parent and child bond as they tackle their challenges. This un-interrupted connection enhances the therapeutic process, and speeds up results. 

The Bottom Line

It goes without saying that Virtual PCIT is more convenient — easier to fit into your and your childs’ busy schedules, less disruptive to your lives, and with 100% less commute time (of note: this also means fewer missed appointments). But it’s also clinically preferred. We recommend virtual PCIT as a powerful tool that can mitigate difficult behaviors, encourage more productive ones, and support your family’s growth and well-being.

To find out more about virtual PCIT, get in touch with us today.