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DISCLAIMER: This material is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it. It is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, nor does it replace the advice or counsel of a doctor or health care professional. Reference to a specific commercial product, service, or external web site does not imply endorsement or recommendation of that product, service, or external web site content by CPCMG. We attempt to keep lists of resources and referrals as up to date as possible; however, this information is constantly changing. Please check with the service provider and your insurance company to verify coverage.
Parent- Child Interactive Therapy (PCIT) is helpful in addressing problematic behaviors associated with a variety of developmental and mental health conditions including ADHD, anxiety, depression, autism, aggression/anger problems, and oppositional and defiant behavior. PCIT involves parents and guardians by coaching them to manage their child's behavior with both warmth and firmness. Please discuss with your child's clinician whether PCIT will be an appropriate treatment for your child and family.
Call your insurance company: Request to speak to the Case Manager in the Behavioral Health Department
PsychologyToday.com: Locate a psychiatrist covered in network using the webpage filters
PCIT Therapists (California): United States (pcit.org)
ECS Para Las Familias (Episcopal Community Services)
Contact: (619) 565-2650
Website: https://www.ecscalifornia.org/para-las-familias
En español: https://www.ecscalifornia.org/plf-spanish
Services: ECS Para Las Familias (PLF) is an outpatient behavioral and mental health clinic that provides bilingual (English/Spanish) early childhood mental health services to low-income children ages 0–12 and their families. Services include:
Screening and assessment
Family and group therapy
School observation and teacher/provider consultation
Parenting groups, including weekly groups for caregivers
Adult mental health services for caregivers, as needed
Visits are offered in the office, in the child's home, or by telehealth, depending on what is best for the child.
PLF can help with:
Aggression and anger
Bonding with a new baby or child
Difficulty following instructions or relating to other children
Disobedience and severe temper tantrums
Divorce, sibling rivalry, or other family changes
Fussiness, clinginess, or whining
Hyperactivity
Nervousness, restlessness, or trouble sleeping or eating
Sadness or withdrawal
Trauma, loss, or separation
Insurance: all Insurances and No Insurance
Location: 1424 30th St., Suite A, San Diego, CA 92154. Services can be in child’s home any area of San Diego or Telehealth
Rady Children’s Healthy Development Services (HDS)
Services: Behavior therapy including PCIT for children birth to 5 with mild to moderate concerns. Starts with an intake appointment and assessment; about 26 weekly sessions depending on need. In North Central and North Coastal regions, behavior therapy is provided by the Chadwick Center at Rady Children's. Source: First 5 San Diego FAQ and Rady HDS locations, which also list the zip codes each region serves. First 5 San Diego can also be reached at 1-888-534-7785.
Region | Provider | Contact |
|---|---|---|
North Central | Rady Children’s Hospital | 858-966-7510 |
North Coastal | Rady Children’s Hospital | 858-966-8235 |
North Inland | 877-504-2299 | |
South | South Bay Community Services | 619-495-8248 |
Central | Family Health Centers of San Diego | 619-515-2406 |
East | Family Health Centers | 619-515-2463 |
San Diego Center for Children
Contact: (619) 668-6200 (main line (858) 277-9550)
Website: https://www.centerforchildren.org/our-services/outpatient/family-wellness-center/parent-child-interaction-therapy/
Services: PCIT for children ages 2 to 7. Weekly in-clinic sessions with live coaching. Offered in partnership with the County of San Diego
Insurances: Medi-Cal group plans (Blue Shield Promise, CHG, and Molina)
Location: 6386 Alvarado Ct., Suite 310, San Diego 92120
Home Start, Inc.
Contact: Intake line (voicemail): (619) 692-0727 ext. 118
Website: https://home-start.org/mental-health-services/
Services: PCIT for children ages 1 to 6, weekly one- to two-hour sessions over 12 to 26 weeks. Delivered at home, school, via telehealth, or at the office.
Eligibility: Free for child survivors of abuse, crime, or other traumatic events
Locations: Services may be provided in the child’s home, school, or via telehealth video as well as at one of our two Home Start locations (Mission Valley or El Cajon)
SDSU Psychology Clinic - Child and Family Therapy
Contact: (619) 594-5134
Website: https://psychologyclinic.sdsu.edu/child-family-therapy
Services: Supervised trainees offer evidence-based approaches including PCIT
Insurance: Insurance not accepted; sliding scale $15-90 based on income and family size
Location: 6363 Alvarado Ct. Suite 102, San Diego 92120
Child Psychology Center
Contact: (858) 480-5150
Website: https://www.childpsychcenter.com/child-behavioral-problems
Services: Behavioral therapy for children and families incorporating evidence-based interventions from Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), PC-CARE, and Parent Management Training (PMT). Services may include parent coaching and live coaching during parent-child interactions.
Insurance: In-network with Tricare West. Out-of-network benefits may also be used; monthly superbills are available for families seeking reimbursement from their insurance plan. Families should verify benefits and coverage directly with their insurance carrier.
Location: Carlsbad and Sacramento, California (Telehealth available statewide)
Dr. Vanja Gale
Contact: (619) 300-6209
Website: https://psychotherapysandiego.com/Services: Cognitive Behavioral (CBT), Family/Marital and Parent-Child Interaction therapy (PCIT)
Insurance:
Aetna
PPOs
Tricare
TriWest
Out of Network $120/session
Location: San Diego, CA 92110 and Telehealth
La Jolla Therapy Center
Contact: (858) 224-3317
Website: https://lajollatherapycenter.com/services/parent-support/
Services: Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, Behavioral issues, Eating disorders, Alcohol and/or Substance use, Life transitions, Family conflict, Self-esteem, Relationships, Stress, and Parenting. Starting at 4 years old through adulthood
Insurance: Out-of-network provider and does not accept insurance. Can provide a super bill of services to help with obtaining reimbursement through your insurance company.
Location: 3252 Holiday Ct Ste 107, La Jolla CA 92037
Life Stance Health
Contact: 858-914-1347
Website: https://lifestance.com/services/parent-child-interaction-therapy/
Services: ABA, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Child & Adolescent Therapy, Child-Parent Relationship Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Couples Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, EDMR Therapy, Family Therapy, Gottman Therapy, Group Therapy, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, Narrative Therapy, Neuropsychological Testing, Neurosequential Model, Play Therapy, Psychotherapy, Solution Focused Therapy, TFCBT, TMS (if you have depression, but medication and therapy haven’t worked, this in-person treatment may be right for you), Trauma-Informed Care
Insurance:
Anthem
Aetna
Blue Shield of CA
BlueCross
Cigna
Humana
Tricare
United Health Care
and more
Location: Multiple locations: https://lifestance.com/location/state/california/
Dr. Ian Schere
Contact: (619) 847-0202 Email: ian@ianschere.com
Website: https://www.pcitkids.com
Services: Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), a specialized parenting intervention designed for families with young children (2-7 years) to reduce problematic child behaviors and parent stress. Motivational Interviewing (MI), a client-centered, goal directed approach designed to explore and resolve ambivalent feelings and elicit desired behavioral changes.
Insurance: Out-of-network insurances ($225 per session)
Location: 7590 Fay Ave, Suite 204B La Jolla, CA 92037
Set 4 School
Contact: 951-358-6895
Website: https://www.ruhealth.org/preschool-0-5-programs
Services: Children ages 0-5
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is a successful and effective evidence-based practice. The proven parent-child treatment program assists caregivers of children with behavioral problems by promoting positive parent-child relationships and interactions while teaching effective child management skills.
Teacher-Child Interaction Training (TCIT) is a school-based variant of PCIT wherein the relationship enhancement, disciplinary techniques, and findings of PCIT are utilized to help teachers manage behavior challenges in the classroom.
Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is treatment for young children which utilizes trauma-sensitive, developmentally appropriate play-based interventions with young children who are experiencing significant emotional and behavioral difficulties related to traumatic life events.
The Incredible Kids (IK) program includes research-based, proven effective interventions for reducing children's aggression and behavior problems and increasing social competence at home and at school. Both parent and child components are offered.
Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) offers anticipatory parental guidance made up of simple and practical strategies to help caretakers confidently manage their child’s behavior, prevent problems from developing, and build healthy relationships.
Insurance: Medi-Cal and county services
Location: 3075 Myers Street Riverside, CA 92503
Julia Allen Therapy
Contact: (858) 208-0198
Website: Child, Teen, & Family Teletherapy | La Jolla, CA | Julia Allen Therapy
Services:
Young kids ages 5+: Behavioral issues, impulsivity and tantrum, Parent-Child disconnect, Non-compliance at home and school, Depression, Anger, Anxiety, Coping with divorce, ADHD, School and academic stressors.
Teens: social anxiety, low self-esteem, unhealthy friendships and romantic relationships, substance use, eating disorders, communication difficulties, depression and self-harm, mood swings and impulsivity.
Family: high conflict patterns of miscommunication, defiance and disrespect, sibling issues and rivalries, homework, and chore refusal, coping with daily stressors, navigating separation, divorce and blended families.
Insurance: Out-of-network provider and does not accept insurance. Can provide a super bill of services to help with obtaining reimbursement through your insurance company.
Location: Telehealth.
Tamara Halperin, PsyD
Contact: (619) 612- 5108 Email: contact@drtamarahalperin.com
Website: https://www.drtamarahalperin.com/
Services: Certified Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT) and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) therapist.
Insurance: Aetna health insurance. A Superbill can be provided to your health insurance for reimbursement for out-of-network insurance plans
Location: Telehealth
The Calm Center
Contact: (858) 346-5063
Website: https://www.thecalm.center/services-child
Services: Parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT), Trauma-Informed Cognitive Behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), anxiety and depression
Insurance: Cash/Check $195 per session
Location: Telehealth
Parent-Child Interactive Resources
PCIT CaliforniaPCIT California is the state's Behavioral Health Center of Excellence for Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). It's run by PCIT International, the only organization endorsed by PCIT's developer, Dr. Sheila Eyberg. PCIT is an evidence-based therapy for children ages 2 to 7. It helps with tantrums, defiance, aggression and trouble following directions, and it builds a stronger bond between parent and child. Families can read parenting tips on the blog and choose their county to learn about PCIT near them. Website: https://californiapcit.org/ Contact: pcit.bhcoe@pcit.org |
Child Mind InstituteThe Child Mind Institute is dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders by giving them the help they need to thrive. Website: https://childmind.org/ |
InfoAboutKidsGoal is to promote healthy child and family development by highlighting science-based information for those who care for, or work with, children. Website: https://infoaboutkids.org/ |
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)When it’s used, what to expect, how it works and what to look for in a Parent-Child Interaction Therapist |
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy Official websiteThis website is designed to provide valuable PCIT resources for caregivers, clinicians, researchers, and professional organizations. Website: https://www.parentchildinteractiontherapy.com/ Contact: 877-724-8248 |
Parent Management Training (PMT)Parent Management Training is an intervention used specifically to treat children and adolescents with oppositional, aggressive, and antisocial behaviors. This training can be completed with a therapist, but there are some books that are available to that you can learn some of the techniques on your own: Book: Treatment for Oppositional, Aggressive, and Antisocial Behavior in Children and Adolescents by Alan E Kazdin Course: Everyday Parenting: the ABC’s of Child Rearing Instrucor: Alan E. Kazdin, PhD, ABPP Everyday Parenting gives you access to a toolkit of behavior-change techniques that will make your typical day in the home easier as you develop the behaviors you would like to see in your child. The lessons provide step-by-step instructions and demonstrations to improve your course of action with both children and adolescents. Among many techniques, you will learn how even simple modifications to tone of voice and phrasing can lead to more compliance. The course will also shed light on many parenting misconceptions and ineffective strategies that are routinely used. The key to the course is practice. It is not enough to know the strategies; you have to do them to reap the rewards. Using the techniques on a temporary basis will lead to permanent change. Chances are your parenting is perfectly fine and working the way you would like. But if you have any frustrations with your child or would like to improve your effectiveness in changing your child’s behavior, these videos will be a very useful guide. Website: https://www.coursera.org/learn/everyday-parenting#instructors |
PCIT Therapists (California)The mission of PCIT International is to foster the well-being of children and families of all cultures and nations through a well-researched, effective set of skills known as Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). PCIT International's mission includes a commitment to build and strengthen our diverse community of expert PCIT therapists, trainers, and researchers. Website: United States (pcit.org) |
Pocket PCIT OnlineThis interactive book is for families who are either in or have already finished Parent-Child Interaction Therapy or PCIT. This resource is not meant to replace therapy. Instead, it is meant to support you in practicing PCIT skills with your child outside of session. Pocket PCIT Online is a FREE online resource for parents that is available 24/7. This resource is based on Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, an evidence-based treatment for children with disruptive behaviors. This online parenting program provides lots of tips for how to improve your relationship with your child and improve your child's behavior. Website: https://www.pocketpcit.com/ |
Psychotherapy for Children and Adolescents: Different Types |
Treatment ModalitiesDescription of the multitude of evidence-based psychotherapies that have been shown to be effective |
Prepared and maintained by ME, Population Health Program Specialist; Reviewed by JF, Population Health Manager and PL M.D
Last reviewed: November 2026