Parent-Child Interaction Therapy

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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 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 Certified Global Trainer for more than a decade and a PCIT International practitioner for almost 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 Therapist Training

EPIC LLC provides PCIT International 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 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 Therapist for detailed information.

While there are various formats for PCIT International 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 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 Within Agency Trainer (WATer) Training

EPIC LLC provides PCIT International WATer Training for PCIT International 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 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 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 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 Regional Trainer (RT) Development

EPIC LLC provides PCIT International RT Development for PCIT International 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 at least 15 RT Candidates in various phases of their program development and PCIT International 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 RT Certification process. Dr. Warner-Metzger has also led or co-led collaborative training teams for large-scale dissemination efforts in 7 states and Australia.

These combined experiences give EPIC LLC unique 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 RT Training requires multiple training series in collaboration with a PCIT International 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 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 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 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 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 Certified Trainer who may better meet your needs. Positive connections are a core value of the PCIT International 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 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 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 PCIT International. If your initial training is by an unauthorized trainer or entity, you may not be eligible for PCIT International Certification, leading to additional costs in finances and time. Look specifically for this logo, as only PCIT International Certified providers and trainers are authorized to use it: