Family Play Therapy

Family play therapy is a new and emerging therapeutic approach for working with families. This approach combines elements from two established therapeutic disciplines that of play therapy and family therapy (see brief outline of both detailed below).

Family play therapy recognises the importance of seeing the individual in his/her own right and equally understands the need to see that individual within the context of the system he/she belongs. It takes the view that working with the family as a whole serves to minimise unhealthy stigmatisation of the individual (often the child) as the 'problem'. Play is central to child development and enables adults to better understand their child's emotions and experiences. Symbolic play can help communicate unspoken thoughts and feelings. By enabling adults to gain a deeper understanding of their own child/children inevitably a greater understanding of themselves and their own childhood ensues.

Family play therapy facilitates families in a creative and non-threatening way. It provides a space for all members of the family to play out difficulties and seek out new scripts, roles and resolutions. Within this approach the therapist must endeavour to balance the multiple needs of the clients. The therapist may join, observe, role model, teach and be present equally for all (Schaeffer & Carey p.16).

Filial play therapy originating from the 1960's is an established psycho educational approach to working with families (Guerney 1997). The focus of this approach is on the enhancement of the parent child relationship. The parent is trained in play therapy skills and then enabled to facilitate structured play sessions with their child. When parents are empowered to make changes then it is likely that the whole family will benefit from this shift. The filial therapy model has since been developed for use with individual families (Van Fleet 2000) and a structured time limited model (Landreth 1991). More recently the model has been incorporated as part of Integrative Family Play Therapy. This approach has been developed in order to meet the complex needs of families. Before engaging in filial training parents are enabled to explore personal scripts and roles, elements from past and present, the power of attachment and the significance of child development on emotional well-being. Once parental self awareness is raised then they are invited to engage in filial therapy as well as developing real life parenting skills.  

What is Play Therapy?

'Play Therapy is a mode of therapy that helps children to explore their feelings, to express themselves and to make sense of their life experiences'.

www.bapt.info accessed 4.08.07

Play therapy creates the space for children and young people to communicate freely without needing to 'find the right words'. Play is a natural and familiar way for children and young people to convey their perspective of the world. It is a medium for experimentation and mastery.

When children/young people enter play therapy they will be offered a safe and trusting environment in order that they can work through their difficulties and ultimately gain a greater self-confidence and coping capacity.

What is Family Therapy?

A family is any group of people who define themselves as such, who care about and care for each other.

www.aft.org.uk accessed 4.08.07

Family therapy places an emphasis on relationships and the roles that are created within those relationships. It challenges the premise that therapy is simply about individuals' difficulties. It recognises that the individual is part of a wider social context and that this can serve to perpetuate unhelpful roles and dynamics within that system. A family therapist facilitates those who are struggling in their relationships to find alternative more affirming ways of relating to one another. Often Family Therapists will co work with families in order that they can gain a wider understanding of the different perspectives within the family unit.

References

Dallos, R & Draper R (2006) An Introduction to Family Therapy - systemic theory and practice (second edition) Open University Press:Maidenhead

Hutton, D. (2004). Filial Therapy: Shifting the Balance. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry Vol 9(2): 261-270.

West, J. (1996). Child-Centred Play Therapy London:Arnold

Bibliography

Guerney, L. (1997). Filial Therapy. In K. O'Connor & L. Braverman (Eds.), Play Theory and Practice. John Wiley and Sons Inc.

Landreth, G. (1991). Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship. Accelerated Development.

Schaefer, C. & Carey, C. (2004). Family Play Therapy (second edition). Aronson.

VanFleet, R. (2000). A Parent's Handbook of Filial Therapy. Boiling  Springs : Play Therapy Press.