A new initiative by UVA Health is set to enhance access to a specialized form of therapy for children and their caregivers across Virginia. The program, led by associate professor Alisa Bahl, a pediatric psychologist in the UVA School of Medicine, aims to increase the number of providers offering Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), a treatment designed for young children facing behavioral challenges, including those affected by trauma.
To launch the clinic, Bahl received the prestigious Ashley Thompson Manning Health Innovation Award, which provided an $80,000 grant from the Jefferson Trust. The funding will support efforts to expand the availability of PCIT, which helps caregivers develop the skills necessary to manage their child’s behavioral and mental health needs.
“The therapy works by teaching caregivers strategies to address their child’s difficult behaviors, which not only improves the child’s mental health but also reduces parenting stress,” Bahl explained. “This approach helps both children and their caregivers thrive.”
PCIT is particularly effective for children experiencing disruptive behaviors associated with trauma, anxiety, or foster care. It focuses on fostering secure relationships between parents and children while offering real-time coaching for caregivers during challenging situations.
Bahl, who specializes in neurodevelopmental disorders and parenting interventions, emphasized that PCIT follows a two-phase approach. The first phase helps establish a strong bond between the child and caregiver, while the second phase coaches caregivers on how to engage with their child during moments of difficult behavior.
In August, a U.S. Surgeon General advisory identified parenting stress as a growing public health concern, with significant mental health implications. The advisory called for increased support for managing parental stress, including paid family leave and universal preschool programs. According to the report, 33% of parents reported high stress levels in the past month, compared to 20% of other adults in 2023.
The new clinic, which officially launched on March 1, is based at the UVA Health Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Health Clinic at Riverside. This facility, a collaboration between UVA Health Children’s and Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital, is specially equipped to facilitate PCIT, with rooms featuring a one-way mirror. This setup allows therapists to observe and coach caregivers as they interact with their children without the child seeing the therapist.
As children display challenging behaviors—such as playing too roughly or knocking over toys—the therapist offers real-time guidance to the caregiver on how to respond appropriately. This unique structure allows the child to focus on their caregiver’s responses, while the caregiver learns how to better manage the child’s behavior.
Bahl’s goal is to extend this therapy across the state by training UVA psychologists and graduate students, expanding the pool of available providers. To become certified in PCIT, professionals must undergo 40 hours of training and clinical case experience, a process that can take up to a year.
“With a shortage of therapists available to meet the growing demand for mental health services for children and caregivers in Virginia, this initiative is critical,” Bahl said. “By training 20 therapists in two years, for instance, we could provide 200 hours of PCIT therapy each week, significantly increasing access to this vital treatment.”
The expansion of PCIT therapy is a promising step toward addressing the mental health needs of young children and their caregivers in Virginia, with the potential to improve outcomes for families across the state.
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