How to Code with the

Dyadic Parent-Child Interaction Coding System

DPICS

Abbreviated and comprehensive coding manuals are available at www.PCIT.org

Purposes of Coding in PCIT

Quantifies the quality of parent-child interaction

Determines coaching goals for each treatment session

Enables therapist to give feedback to parents on weekly progress

Determines when parenting skills are mastered

Setting Up a DPICS Observation

Playroom set-upToys

Appropriate toysInappropriate toys

Standard instructions Bug-in-the-Ear

Three Coding Situations

Child-Led PlayLow demand

Parent-Led PlayModerate demand

Clean UpHigh demand

Category DefinitionsYou Need to Know to Conduct PCIT

7 Parent Categories

Labeled PraiseBehavioral DescriptionReflection

Direct Command Indirect CommandQuestion

Negative Talk

3 Child Categories

Compliance NoncomplianceNo Opportunity to Comply

Unlabeled Praise—tells child the parent likes something, but not specifically what the parent likes

Labeled Praise—tells child specifically what the parent likes

Praise

Praise expresses a positive evaluation of the child’s behavior, activity, or products

Which are Labeled Praises?

1. You are using pretty colors.2. Good girl!3. Thank you for sharing!4. Nice work.5. Your drawing is nice.6. My drawing is wonderful!

1, 3, and 5

Reflections

Reflection repeat what the child has just said using the same or similar words

Have same meaning as what child said

May elaborate on what child said

Reflections do not change the meaning of the child’s statement or interpret unstated ideas

Which Parent Responses are Reflections?

Child says: “I like these yellow blocks”Parent says:

1. “You like the yellow blocks” 2. “I like the yellow blocks too” 3. “The yellow blocks are your favorite”

Answer is 1Child says: “The big car is red”Parent says:

4. “The big car is blue” 5. “The big automobile is red and fast” 6. “It’s big and red”

Both 5 and 6

Behavioral Description

Describes what the child is doing

The subject of the sentence is the child

“You are drawing a tall tree.”

The verb describes the child’s current or immediately completed behavior

“You are drawing a tall tree.”

Which are Behavioral Descriptions?

1. You are putting the cow in the barn.2. Now the cow is in the barn. 3. It must be the cow’s bedtime.4. You are closing the barn door so the cow can sleep.5. You are smart to know the cow was sleepy.6. You look sleepy too.7. You are pretending to be asleep.

1,4, and 7

Question

Questions ask the child something

They have the sentence structure of a question or a questioning voice inflection

Are you going to use the yellow crayon?What color do you want?Yellow?It’s really yellow, isn’t it?Do you really want to use yellow?Why are you drawing it all yellow?

These are all questions

Negative Talk

Statements expressing disapproval of the child or the child's attributes, activities, products, or choices

Criticism is Negative Talk Sarcasm is Negative Talk

ExamplesThat yellow was not a good choiceThat’s not the right color for a lake Stop being sillyDon’t use any more yellowYour drawing is ugly I want you to stop thatCan’t you hear?

These are all Negative Talk

Command

A direction to the child The child (“you”) is the stated or implied subject A verb tells the child to do something

Direct Commands

Indirect Commands

Direct Command

Declarative statement that contains an order or direction to the child to perform a behavior

ExamplesGive me the round blockPlease sit in this chairPut the block in the boxSweetie, hold my handTell me what this is, pleasePoint to the biggest one

Indirect Command

Command implied or stated in question form

Examples

Let’s put away the yellow crayonWe’re going to draw with the red crayonsHere’s the part you need to colorWill you hand me a red one?Could you put that yellow one away?

Child Responses to Commands

ComplianceThe child obeys, starts to obey, or tries to obey a direct or

indirect command within 5 seconds

NoncomplianceThe child does not obey or try to obey within 5 seconds The child stops trying to complete the task before 5 seconds end

No opportunity to comply Behave!Be carefulListen carefullyRemind me tomorrow

Neutral Talk

Statements that do not fit into other categories

That’s a blue blockI’m building a towerYour coat is by the doorHis name is BarneyThis is funOkay

Want to Try Coding CLP?(indirect command)

I will be the mother Dr. Funderburk will be the child

Take a minute to look at your coding sheets When we start, make a tally mark in the

correct box for everything I say

I might be a nice mother or a not-nice mother!