Filial Family Therapy

Filial Therapy is a form of family therapy.

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Filial Therapy has been around for over 50 years and has been shown to be highly effective in helping children and strengthening families. There has been extensive research, studies and clinical experience showing that Filial Therapy consistently helps reduce children's problem behaviours , increases parental confidence, reduces parental stress and improves the understanding of parents about their children. 

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In many types of play therapy, such as Child-Centred Play Therapy, the therapist works within the play space 1:1 with the child. The therapist meets separately with the parents/caregivers to provide feedback and suggest strategies to help their child at home. 

In Filial Therapy, the parents/caregivers are an integral part of the therapy process. Parents are partners throughout the whole therapy process. 

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As a trained play therapist, I will work with parents/caregivers to introduce, model, practice with and observe the 4 key skills which are utilised in Child-Centred Play Therapy. Parents/caregivers  will have 1:1 time with their child in 'special playtime' in which they attune to their child, allow their child to completely direct the play and show through verbal and nonverbal communication that they are present. 

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Filial Therapy acknowledges parents/caregivers as the

most important and effective change agents for their child. 

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