Counseling can be an effective way for parents to succeed at providing foster care to children. Different counselors use different modalities of therapy, but one type of therapy that can benefit foster families is parent-child interaction therapy. Here are four ways that PCIT can help foster care providers form strong, healthy, and mutually respectful relationships with their kids:
1. Learn to bond with your foster child
The parent-child bond is one of the most important relationships in any child's life. Foster kids typically enter their families at older ages than biological children. This can cause some difficulties with bonding, especially if parents aren't sure how to connect with their kids. PCIT can teach foster parents helpful ways to bond with their children, such as playing together or enjoying books with one another. Therapists will encourage foster parents to engage their kids in child-directed play that puts kids in control of the interaction.
2. Help your foster child feel safe and secure
Foster children often enter new homes feeling unsure of themselves and their place in their new households. Some children have experienced trauma that continues to influence their behavior in many ways. PCIT can teach parents to help their foster kids feel safe. This may include anger management techniques to reduce yelling and other inappropriate parental outbursts. It can also include classes in setting clear boundaries for foster kids.
3. Learn to give clear instructions to children
Children who do not have clear boundaries can feel unsafe and insecure. However, it's important to give boundaries and instructions to children using language they can understand. Foster parents who are raising kids for the first time may accidentally speak to kids at a level higher than they can understand. PCIT counseling can help foster parents understand their child's developmental level. From there, parents can practice giving clear and age-appropriate instructions to kids with the supervision of a counselor.
4. Apply nonviolent, effective disciplinary techniques
It's not uncommon for foster kids to display behavioral problems, especially during the transitional period in a new foster home. When children break boundaries, discipline is necessary. However, the wrong types of discipline can worsen the parent-child relationship and lead to more bad behavior in the future. PCIT can teach foster parents effective disciplinary techniques, such as the use of timeout and revocation of privileges, to encourage behavioral modification. Counselors can help parents discover what works best for their specific child in order to gain the best results.
To learn more about foster care, talk to a professional in your area.
