25 July 2019 Thursday
Filial Therapy
Filial Therapy is an evidence based therapeutic psychoeducational approach that is introduced into the clinical field originally by Bernard Guerney in early 1960s which combines research, children, family, therapist and child-centered play therapy altogether. Family is trained and supervised by the play therapist to conduct child-centered play therapy sessions with their own children in a constructed way so that these therapy sessions can take place in their home environment without direct supervision of a therapist. (Cattanach, 2003)
Main goals of the filial therapy are to break the child’s perceptions and misperceptions about parent’s feelings, attitudes, or behaviors towards him/her; to let the child to express his/her thoughts, needs, and feelings to the parents which was hidden before from them or himself/herself through main medium of communication which is play so that repressed thoughts and feelings and internalized conflicts can surface to be solved; and to allow child to build self-respect, self-worth and confidence through new attitudes that are gained by the parents towards communicating with their child. (Guarney,1964) These goals would help child to resolve conflicts and troubles and develop secure attachment to the parents if it’s not attained.
Therapeutic skills are taught by therapist to the parents so that they can get better at communicating with their children, building stronger familial bond through problem solving and coping skills. Four fundamental play session skills that are thought are structuring which helps to establish boundaries; empathetic listening that allows parents to recognize and accept child’s feelings; child-centered imaginary play which helps parents to take a role in their child’s world by playing roles assigned by the child and limit setting which is crucial to build safe environment to child to express oneself freely without crossing the basic boundaries. When the training ends, the therapist plays a role of the child for parents to show attained skills in a mock play session so the therapist gives feedback and show parents what to expect from the children. (Ann Cattanach, 2003) Weekly meetings can be done by parents and therapist to discuss results after training ends.
The sessions are done at home environment with parents and child. These sessions can start at 30 minutes per a week and if desired, it can be increased up to 45 minutes and more than once per a week. (Guarney,1964) Since this therapy style is a short term intervention model for families who have difficulties with their child, it can last between 10 to 20 sessions. Therapist that is teaching the model must be empathetic to understand child and parents’ troubles that are surfaced or expressed. Practice takes place in mock play sessions and through positive feedback, therapist helps the improvement of parents’ skillset. Therapist takes the role of a therapist and educator in filial therapy. (Schaefer,2011) Therapy sessions that are conducted by therapist in a therapy room should be carried in home environment after training ends.
Filial therapy helps familial bonds to develop for child to establish secure attachment. The therapy can help children who are securely attached as well as having insecure attachments, troubles or symptoms. Children who are abused or neglected, have chronic illnesses, are adopted and troubled children can benefit from this type of therapy. As a result, behavioral problems can decrease, educational performance can increase as familial bond develops, stress, anxiety and depression can decline drastically, self-confidence of children and parents can increase in time.
Filial therapy helps for development of self-confidence for children as well as parents in parenting skills. As confidence of both parents and child develops, the relationship between two grows. To strengthen familial bonds between family members or the parents and child, this evidence based innovative therapy model can be used rather than traditional therapy models.
