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"In play therapy, toys are like the child's words, and play is their language."
Garry Landreth
family therapy & support
Filial Therapy
Filial Play Therapy is an approach to therapy that involves training parents or caregivers to become therapeutic agents for their children. It was developed by Bernard G. Guerney Jr. in the 1960s as a way to actively involve parents in their child's therapeutic process.
In Filial Play Therapy, parents are taught specific techniques and skills to engage in therapeutic play sessions with their children. The aim is to strengthen the parent-child relationship, enhance communication, and promote emotional growth and healing.
Key features:
Structured play sessions: Parents set aside dedicated time to engage in regular play sessions with their child. These sessions are typically held in a safe and supportive environment.
Child-centred play: Parents are encouraged to follow their child's lead during play sessions, allowing the child to express themselves and explore their emotions and experiences through play.
Therapeutic techniques: Parents learn various play therapy techniques such as reflecting feelings, tracking, and limit setting. These techniques help parents attune to their child's emotions, facilitate understanding, and provide appropriate boundaries during play.
Empowering parents: Filial Play Therapy empowers parents by teaching them the skills and tools necessary to support their child's emotional well-being. It promotes a sense of competence and confidence in parents as they actively engage in their child's therapeutic journey. Parent-child relationship enhancement: The therapy focuses on strengthening the parent-child relationship through nurturing and positive interactions. It helps parents develop a deeper understanding of their child's needs, feelings, and behaviours.
Transfer of skills: Over time, the goal is for parents to internalise the skills and techniques learned in therapy, integrating them into their daily interactions with their child. This allows for ongoing support and growth beyond the formal therapy sessions.
Filial Play Therapy can be beneficial for a variety of concerns, including but not limited to behavioural issues, trauma, attachment difficulties, and emotional regulation challenges. It fosters a collaborative and empowering approach, recognising the influential role parents play in their child's emotional development.
In Filial Play Therapy, parents are taught specific techniques and skills to engage in therapeutic play sessions with their children. The aim is to strengthen the parent-child relationship, enhance communication, and promote emotional growth and healing.
Key features:
Structured play sessions: Parents set aside dedicated time to engage in regular play sessions with their child. These sessions are typically held in a safe and supportive environment.
Child-centred play: Parents are encouraged to follow their child's lead during play sessions, allowing the child to express themselves and explore their emotions and experiences through play.
Therapeutic techniques: Parents learn various play therapy techniques such as reflecting feelings, tracking, and limit setting. These techniques help parents attune to their child's emotions, facilitate understanding, and provide appropriate boundaries during play.
Empowering parents: Filial Play Therapy empowers parents by teaching them the skills and tools necessary to support their child's emotional well-being. It promotes a sense of competence and confidence in parents as they actively engage in their child's therapeutic journey. Parent-child relationship enhancement: The therapy focuses on strengthening the parent-child relationship through nurturing and positive interactions. It helps parents develop a deeper understanding of their child's needs, feelings, and behaviours.
Transfer of skills: Over time, the goal is for parents to internalise the skills and techniques learned in therapy, integrating them into their daily interactions with their child. This allows for ongoing support and growth beyond the formal therapy sessions.
Filial Play Therapy can be beneficial for a variety of concerns, including but not limited to behavioural issues, trauma, attachment difficulties, and emotional regulation challenges. It fosters a collaborative and empowering approach, recognising the influential role parents play in their child's emotional development.