Key Practitioner Messages

–The parent-practitioner relationship is central to the success of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) yet this relationship, and practitioner perspectives, attitudes and values as they relate to time-out, are often overlooked. –The intention of parent training programmes is not to advocate for or mandate the use of time-out. Rather, the intention is to enhance a parent’s ability to give fair, reasonable, effective commands when required, and to discern which technique or strategy is indicated as a developmentally ap-propriate response to a child’s non-compliance or defiance. –One discipline technique is not necessarily better than another. Having an understanding of, and competence in using, a range of safe and effective techniques is important for parents of children with conduct problems. –Different children need different responses. Factors such as a child’s age and temperament, severity of the child’s conduct problems, and a parent’s capacity to utilise the technique calmly, consistently and infrequently, are all relevant considerations. Often, children’s behaviour can be effectively managed with other strategies, and time-out is not necessary –Time-out is not a one-size-fits-all technique, and clinical assessment and formulation remain im-portant.