Filial Play Therapy helps parents improve their relationship with their children through non-directive play, creating a safe atmosphere where children can express themselves, try new things, learn about social rules and constraints, improve family bonding and develop effective social skills and attachments.
Because this form of therapy is a developmentally appropriate way of communicating and understanding, it can be used for almost all child problems. Research has shown that play therapy is more effective when parents are involved, so this approach involves training parents on how to play effectively with their children. Filial therapy is a psychoeducational family intervention in which the therapist trains and supervises parents in conducting private child-centered play therapy with their own children, thus involving parents as partners in the therapeutic process and empowering them to be primary change agents.
Filial therapy is a preventive program to strengthen families. It has been successfully used as a therapeutic intervention for many child and family issues: anxiety, depression, child maltreatment, single parenting, adoption/foster care/kinship care, attachment issues, divorce, domestic substance abuse, traumatic events, oppositional defiant disorder, anger and aggression issues, chronic medical illness, step-parenting, relationship issues, families with multiple problems, etc.
Why is Filial Play Therapy applied?
Filial play therapy is a type of play therapy designed to help children play effectively with their families. It strengthens communication between the child and the family.
Who can receive Filial Play Therapy?
Filial Play Therapy can be applied to both children with normal development and those experiencing behavioral and developmental difficulties.
What is the purpose of Filial Play Therapy?
Filial play therapy aims to resolve issues between children and parents, prevent new problems from arising, and enhance language development and attention skills.
How does Filial Play Therapy work?
Through Filial Play Therapy, children can express their emotions and thoughts more effectively, while parents gain a better understanding of their child's feelings and solve problems more easily.
Can Filial Play Therapy be conducted at home?
To apply Filial Play Therapy at home, parents first need to receive training. Initially, the therapy is conducted under the guidance of a therapist and can later be continued at home.
How many sessions does Filial Play Therapy take?
Filial Play Therapy varies depending on each family's process and relationship with the child. However, each session lasts at least 30 minutes.
