Use of a time-out chair is a part of the protocol for Parent Child Interaction Therapy. A time-out room is used for backup. The PCIT International website offers some helpful clinical Q & A on this and other subjects. -gw
The child was in the timeout room and was yelling, whining, crying, etc. His mother was doing a great job of ignoring and you could tell the child was frustrated. He said (out loud, and yes, this is a direct quote): “Well, that didn’t work, so I guess I’ll have to try something else!” Both his mother and the therapist had to stifle a laugh, because in that moment, it was so clear what was going on for this little guy. It was a great “aha” moment for mom, as she realized that he usually had been able to get out of different tasks with his crying and yelling.http://www.pcit.org/2012/02/03/tough-time-out-situations/
The timeout procedure in PCIT is effective because it serves as a removal from the parent’s attention. So the back up just needs to be a further removal from that attention. It doesn’t have to be an entire room. It only has to be a safe space that serves as a further removal from parental attention. It can be another therapy room, cleared out before your PDI session. Timeout rooms can be built by adding two walls to a corner of the playroom (and they don’t have to go all the way up to the ceiling). They’re doing amazing things in Germany with sturdy, removable timeout rooms that can be wheeled in for the session, hooked into the wall, and removed once the session is over.http://www.pcit.org/2012/02/06/time-out-revisited/
