Filial therapy is a closely related form of child centred play therapy whereby the therapist teaches skills  and supervises parents as they hold special child-centred play sessions with their own children.This is a collaborative process where parents or carers become partners in the therapeutic process and are empowered  to be the primary change agents for their own children .

 

The techniques are non -directive and child centred.

Parents learn skills in structuring, empathic listening, child centred imaginary play and limit setting . 

The intervention is an approach that ideally involves all mebers of a family simultaneously. 

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It enables a parent to attune to their child and know them on a deep level. They are helped to reflect on the children's play, recognise themes and to gain a deeper understanding of children's thoughts and feelings underlying behaviour. It is an empowering process that over time can be generalised to day to day parenting.

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Once the skills and structure have been learnt sessions can be revisited at later stages of the child's devleopment if further difficulties arise 

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Imagination is more important than knowledge

Albert Einstein

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