1.
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is an internationally-recognized, evidence-based approach for families who have children with primary or secondary externalizing behavior problems. The program is unique in comparison to other family therapies because it involves coaching parents as they interact with their young child (ages 2 years to 6 years, 11 months). There are two phases to PCIT: Child-Directed Interaction (CDI) and Parent-Directed Interaction (PDI).
If you landed on this webpage in search of therapy services for your family, you are kindly referred to the PCIT International Association website to find a number of practitioners trained by Dr. Warner-Metzger who practice within the Chicagoland area.
If you are a mental health provider, systems administrator, or government/institutional entity looking to extend your journey with PCIT, then you're in the right place. EPIC LLC was created to help individual providers, agencies, and large systems overcome barriers to accessing excellence in training and consultation. As a PCIT International Association Certified Global Trainer for more than a decade and a PCIT International Association practitioner for over 20 years, Dr. Warner-Metzger has experienced the wonders of PCIT at various ecological levels (i.e., working with families directly, teaching therapist trainees, mentoring trainers, supporting agencies in sustainable practices, building statewide initiatives, and sharing innovations across the globe).
PCIT International Association
Therapist Training
EPIC LLC provides PCIT International Association Therapist Training for agencies and systems ranging from a single entity to statewide and national networks. If you have at least four (4) Masters' level mental health providers at your agency, in your area, or within your network, fill out the contact form below to inquire about a training at your site or near your location.
PCIT International Association Therapist Training requires 40 hours of initial live synchronous training followed by a consultation and competency phase as clinicians implement the evidence-based treatment with families they serve. See the Training Requirements for Certification as a PCIT International Association Therapist for detailed information.
While there are various formats for PCIT International Association Therapist Trainings, EPIC LLC uses a Learning Session model to align training and consultation components as they parallel your clinical work. See how the preparation phase, learning phases, and action phases unfold across several months:
Application Process
-
Determine goodness of clinician fit
-
Agency Readiness Assessment
-
Occurs 3 months prior to training
Preparation & PreWork
-
PreWork Call with Dr. Warner-Metzger, engaged administrators, & clinicians
-
Facilities & tech purchases & set-up
-
Referral flow & identify appropriate clients (at least 3 per clinician to start after Learning Session 1)
-
Occurs 1-2 months prior to training
Learning Session 1: Child-Directed Interaction (CDI)
-
3-day live synchronous training
-
Begin with 3 clients
-
Start Consultation Calls via Zoom
-
Occurs within Month 1 of training
-
Senior Leadership and Administrator supports also available
Learning Session 2: Parent-Directed Interaction (PDI)
-
3-day live synchronous training
-
Ongoing clients, expanding caseload
-
Consultation Calls via Zoom
-
Occurs within Month 2-3 of training (typically 6-8 weeks after Learning Session 1)
-
Senior Leadership and Administrator supports also available
Consultation & Competencies
-
4 Session reviews
-
12 Months of twice monthly group Consultation Calls via Zoom (24 total calls)
-
Asynchronous activities and resources via online collaborative platform
-
Competency tracking toward PCIT International Association Certification eligibility
-
Occurs Months 1-12 of training, typically beginning 2 weeks following Learning Session 1 and continuing on a planned schedule for the year
-
Senior Leadership and Administrator supports also available
PCIT International Association
Within Agency Trainer (WATer) Training
EPIC LLC provides PCIT International Association WATer Training for PCIT International Association Certified Therapists who strive to build a sustainable PCIT training program within their agency or institution. Dr. Warner-Metzger excels at building local and regional pockets of PCIT trainer expertise. Fill out the contact form below to inquire about your next best steps for your path to become a PCIT International Association Certified Trainer.
PCIT International WATer Training requires 8 hours of initial live synchronous training. This is followed by a consultation and competency phase as WATer Candidates provide training and supervision in the evidence-based treatment to their in-house trainees. See the Training Requirements for Certification as a PCIT International Association Within Agency Trainer for detailed information.
The WATer Training process spans a minimum of 12 months, with EPIC LLC using the following model:
Application Process
-
Determine goodness of clinician fit for WATer trainership
-
Agency Readiness Assessment
-
Occurs 3 months prior to training
Preparation & PreWork
-
PreWork Call with Dr. Warner-Metzger, engaged administrators, & WATer Candidates
-
Facilities & tech preparation for mentorship training model
-
Identify appropriate trainees (recommend 1-2 trainees per WATer Candidate to start after WATer Course)
-
Occurs 1-2 months prior to training
WATer Course
-
8-hour live synchronous training
-
Begin with 1-2 trainees in mentorship model
-
Occurs within Month 1 of training
Consultation & Competencies
-
2 Session reviews focused on WATer Candidate's provision of supervision in mentorship model
-
12 Months of once monthly group Consultation Calls via Zoom (12 total calls)
-
Asynchronous activities and resources via online collaborative platform
-
Competency tracking toward PCIT International Association Certification eligibility as a WATer
-
Occurs Months 1-12 of training, typically beginning 2-4 weeks following the WATer Course and continuing on a planned schedule for the year
PCIT International Association
Regional Trainer (RT) Development
EPIC LLC provides PCIT International Association RT Development for PCIT International Association Certified WATers who have the systems and regional supports necessary to establish a thriving training program external to their agency and within their identified geographic location (i.e., state). To date, and as a "trainer's trainer," Dr. Warner-Metzger has worked with over 20 RT Candidates in various phases of their program development and PCIT International Association Certification application process.
PCIT International frequently requests Dr. Warner-Metzger to review the work of other advanced trainers to provide feedback on their teaching, consultative, and data collection methods. She gleans expertise from serving as both an off-site and on-site reviewer for the PCIT International Association RT Certification process. Dr. Warner-Metzger has also led or co-led collaborative training teams for large-scale dissemination efforts in 17 states and Australia.
These combined experiences uniquely position EPIC LLC with insights into the most effective ways to build an external training program, highlight its innovations, and demonstrate its excellence in practice. Due to her extensive field experience added to her natural knack for organizational development, Dr. Warner-Metzger takes great joy in helping overcome accessibility gaps to excellence in training. Are you ready to elevate your professional development and expand your regional expertise? Fill out the contact form below to inquire about your readiness for the RT journey.
PCIT International Association RT Training requires multiple training series in collaboration with a PCIT International Association Global Trainer. The RT Candidacy process is rigorous and takes several years to complete, requiring deep resources and substantial commitment. Dr. Warner-Metzger uses a mutual discovery process to determine 1) if a PCIT International Association Certified WATer is ready to advance their trainership outside their agency, and 2) if they are a good fit to embark on the RT Candidacy pathway with EPIC LLC. See the Training Requirements for Certification as a PCIT International Association Regional Trainer for detailed information.
EPIC LLC values transparency and equity in standardized processes with clear expectations and roles. The RT Development process should be a supportive learning experience and not merely "checking the boxes." If your goals include successful and sustainable practices for your region or developing a "center of excellence" in training, see how the following roll-out prepares you for the true work of an RT:
Readiness Assessment
-
Complete an RT Candidate self-assessment
-
Participate in a consultation session to review the self-assessment
-
If a beneficial "goodness of fit" exists between the RT Candidate's needs and Dr. Warner-Metzger's approach, then work toward a formal training plan may occur
Training Plan Development
-
Garner references and coordinate PCIT International Association Certified Trainer collaborations
-
Mutually create a plan to address training, systems, and professional development needs
-
Determine budgetary items and fiscal arrangements, including technical support for grant submissions
-
Identify and clarify resources to be shared and created
Training Plan Implementation
-
Active engagement in creating sustainable training practices and systems tailored to the RT Candidate's identified geographic location (i.e., their state)
-
Ongoing oversight of external training program development across all phases from recruitment to trainee PCIT Certification readiness
-
Supportive project management and resources via online collaborative platform
Consultation & Competencies
-
Oversight and support of consultation of distance trainees
-
Development of session review process for distance trainees
-
Periodic consultation specific to RT Candidacy progress
PCIT International Association RT Certification Application & Site Visit Preparation
-
Expert guidance in developing the RT Certification Application package
-
Advisory support in creating an effective site visit strategy
Consumer Advisory
A note from Dr. Warner-Metzger:
I strongly believe in consumer advocacy and education. If you contact me and I am not a good fit for your training needs, I will do my best to help connect you with a PCIT International Association Certified Trainer who may better meet your needs. Positive connections are a core value of the PCIT International Association Community, and doing good and doing it well is a core value of EPIC LLC.
Be an informed consumer:
If you are pursuing sanctioned training in the PCIT International protocol, be sure the trainer verifies they are vetted by PCIT International Association and their training will lead to you becoming eligible for PCIT International Certification at the provider level you seek. Many entities claim to provide "PCIT Training," but not all provide PCIT International Association training.
Why does it matter?
Some states, governmental agencies, and funding sources will only provide value-based reimbursements and grant funding for those Certified by the PCIT International Association. If your initial training is by an unauthorized trainer or entity, you may not be eligible for PCIT International AssociationCertification, leading to additional costs in finances and time. Look specifically for this logo, as only PCIT International Association Certified providers and trainers are authorized to use it:
