Filial therapy is a type of
psychotherapy
Psychotherapy (also psychological therapy, talk therapy, or talking therapy) is the use of psychological methods, particularly when based on regular personal interaction, to help a person change behavior, increase happiness, and overcome pro ...
designed to treat emotional and behavioral difficulties in children; it was formulated by Bernard Guerney in 1964.
It is based on the principles of
play therapy
Play therapy refers to a range of methods of capitalising on children's natural urge to explore and harnessing it to meet and respond to the developmental and later also their mental health needs. It is also used for Anatomically correct doll, f ...
; however, it is distinct from it, in that it teaches parents (or other paraprofessionals) how to provide therapeutic interventions for children. With respect to older children, filial therapy uses techniques that are adapted to age-appropriate interests and activities.
[
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Therapeutic mechanism
Although the exact mechanism by which therapeutic gains occur through the use of filial therapy is not definitively known, several hypotheses have been formulated to explain its positive effects. Many hypotheses hold that therapeutic gains are due to the same factors that make play therapy
Play therapy refers to a range of methods of capitalising on children's natural urge to explore and harnessing it to meet and respond to the developmental and later also their mental health needs. It is also used for Anatomically correct doll, f ...
efficacious. Other hypotheses suggest that benefits from filial therapy may also stem from parental skill acquisition, a sense of parental self-efficacy
In psychology, self-efficacy is an individual's belief in their capacity to act in the ways necessary to reach specific goals. The concept was originally proposed by the psychologist Albert Bandura.
Self-efficacy affects every area of human endea ...
, decreases in negative parent-child interactions, and an increase in positive parent-child interactions.[
]
Empirical support
Filial therapy is supported by clinical studies and meta-analyses. Some research suggests that under certain conditions, filial therapy can have a greater therapeutic impact than play therapy.
See also
*Virginia Axline
Virginia Mae Axline (March 31, 1911 – March 21, 1988) was a psychologist and one of the pioneers in the use of play therapy. She wrote the book '' Dibs in Search of Self''. She was also the author of ''Play Therapy,'' published in 1947.
Play the ...
References
External links
Association of Play TherapyNational Institute of Relationship Enhancement and Center for Couples, Families and Children
{{Psychotherapy
Child development
Play (activity)