Parenting Can Feel Harder Than Ever

Parent smiling and playing with child during an online therapy session.

Parenting Can Feel Harder Than Ever

If you’ve ever ended the day thinking, “I love my child so much, but we keep clashing,” you’re not alone. Modern parenting often means more stress, less support, and endless advice that leaves parents feeling unsure.

That’s where Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) can make a real difference — and the best part? It works beautifully online. Families are now discovering how online PCIT therapy can help them reconnect, reduce stress, and find more joy in daily life.

What Is PCIT?

PCIT is a research-backed approach that helps parents strengthen their relationship with their child while improving behavior. It’s most commonly used with kids ages 2 to 7, but its principles benefit families with older children, too.

Parents learn communication and connection strategies, while receiving real-time coaching from a therapist. You wear an earpiece or use a phone, and your therapist offers gentle guidance as you interact with your child — helping you practice new skills right in the moment.

How Online PCIT Works

Online PCIT sessions take place via secure video, with your therapist coaching you in real time. Because you’re at home, you can:

• Practice new tools in your child’s natural environment

• Build habits that stick in real life

• Help your child feel relaxed and open during sessions

Families often say that online PCIT feels more authentic — less like “therapy” and more like learning together at home.

(You can learn more about what sessions look like in my blog: What Is Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)?)

The Connection Piece

At its heart, PCIT is about connection. It helps parents slow down, notice what’s going well, and use positive attention to nurture warmth and cooperation.

As that emotional bond grows, power struggles fade. You’ll learn how to:

• Create small daily moments of connection

• Calm big emotions — for you and your child

• Build your child’s confidence and trust

• Feel more grounded and effective as a parent

These small shifts ripple outward, creating a calmer, more connected home.

Does Online PCIT Really Work?

Yes — research shows that online PCIT is just as effective as in-person sessions for improving behavior and strengthening relationships.

Families often appreciate:

• Convenience: No commute or waiting room stress

• Flexibility: Easier scheduling for busy parents

• Consistency: Fewer missed sessions, better follow-through

• Comfort: Kids practice skills where they feel safe

You can read more about the evidence base from PCIT International and The Child Mind Institute.

When to Consider Online PCIT

Online PCIT can help if your child:

• Has frequent meltdowns or tantrums

• Struggles to follow directions

• Shows defiance, anxiety, or frustration

• Has difficulty connecting or communicating

• Feels stuck in a pattern of conflict

  
  

You don’t have to wait for things to feel “bad enough.” PCIT can support your family at any point — even if you just want more peace, patience, and connection at home.

Getting Started

If you’re looking for online PCIT therapy in Virginia, I’d love to help. Together, we’ll create a plan that helps your family feel more connected, confident, and calm.

You can schedule a free consultation here or learn more about Parent-Child Interaction Therapy on my services page.

Parenting is hard work — but it doesn’t have to feel this hard. Let’s help your family reconnect and thrive.

🖇 Suggested Links

• Therapy for Moms & Kids →https://www.willowtreehealingcenter.org/counseling-relationship-anxiety

• Online PCIT in Virginia →https://www.willowtreehealingcenter.org/pcit-in-virginia

• Parenting Support Resources →https://parentshelpingparents.org/

Suggested Blogs

1. When Defiance Becomes a Pattern: How PCIT Helps Kids with ODD

2. Navigating the Unseen: Effective Strategies for Parenting a Child with Anxiety

3. What Age Should You Start Therapy For Your Child? Get Help or DIY?

My Approach

👉 Start therapy with me — online sessions available in Virginia

👉 Check out my Psychology Today profile

👉 Follow me on Facebook for weekly parenting reflections

If you are looking for family counseling, Mary Willoughby Prentiss is a licensed professional counselor in the state of Virginia who provides online therapy for Willow Tree Healing Center. She enjoys transforming the lives of women, college students, kids, tweens/teens, and families through providing communication strategies, coping skills that work, allowing a safe space to be heard, and actively working towards helping you with your challenges. She is certified in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (ages 2-7) and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, counsels substance abuse in teens and adults, and practices Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy.