Community Services Group (CSG) continues to embrace evidenced based practices.  In the fall of 2010, CSG was selected to participate in the Parent Child Interaction Therapy Training Grant through the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). This grant provided CSG with training and supervision required for two MAPS therapists to become certified Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) clinicians. Jeff Willard, Ph.D. and Gwen Burkholder, LCSW, CACD, attended two training sessions in Butler, PA and participate in bi-monthly supervision calls with the PCIT study director at UPMC.  Jeff and Gwen are both on target to complete the training requirements by the end of 2011 and will become PCIT certified.

PCIT is a nationally-recognized, evidence-based parent training program for families who have children with behavior problems. The program is unique in that it involves coaching parents as they interact with their young children (ages 2 to 7). There are two phases to PCIT: Child-Directed Interaction (CDI) and Parent-Directed Interaction (PDI).  At the beginning of each phase, parents attend one didactic session without their child present during which the PCIT clinician reviews the skills that will be "coached" in subsequent sessions.  Next, parents attend weekly sessions with their child and are coached in how to apply the skills taught. PCIT currently uses two adjacent rooms connected with a "one-way mirror" which allows the therapist to observe the parent and child as they interact. The parent wears an earpiece during these sessions through which the therapist can provide coaching and instruction.  

PCIT teaches parents to follow the PRIDE Skills during the CDI portion of treatment. Pride skills are:  Praise, Reflection, Imitation, Description, and Enthusiasm. Parents are taught to avoid the use of questions, commands, and criticisms.  Once parents master these skills, they enter the second phase of treatment, PDI. During PDI parent learn how to provide clear, direct commands, assess compliance vs. noncompliance, and to provide consistent consequences for both compliance (praise) and non compliance (timeout). For most families the full course of treatment is conducted in 10-16 weekly, one-hour sessions.  

Treatment outcome studies demonstrate that parents who complete PCIT report lower parenting stress, and increased confidence in parenting skills. Similarly, observations of child behavior have demonstrated decreases in disruptive behavior and overactivity as well as increases in compliance. 

Since 1972, Community Services Group (www.csgonline.org) has been dedicated to providing quality, community-based mental health and intellectual and development disability services throughout central and northeastern Pennsylvania. With over 1,800 employees, CSG has developed a spectrum of specialized programs to meet the needs of the individuals it serves. CSG is the preferred choice for individuals and referral sources because of their network of comprehensive mental health, intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), child and youth, autism and eldercare services. CSG is committed to empowering individuals and promoting independence and wellness.

For more information about MAPS Behavioral Health Services or PCIT, please contact Jim Martin, Program Director, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . To make a referral to MAPS, please contact CSG's Referral Management Department at 877.907.7970.