Connecting parents and children through filial therapy : eight filial therapy group lesson plans

Abstract

This project provides a comprehensive review of the academic literature available on filial therapy (FT) and concludes by offering a facilitators’ manual composed of eight lesson plans to implement FT in a group therapy approach. FT, a derivative of childcentred play therapy (Kolos, Green, & Crenshaw, 2009), is a counselling intervention in which a counsellor trains parents or other caregivers to hold at-home, child-centred play sessions with the child, with the goal to enhance and strengthen the parent–child relationship (Landreth, 2002; VanFleet, 2005). Since FT is recently gaining popularity and increased usage in the counselling realm, counsellors may seek to augment their clinical experience and knowledge of FT. The intent of this project is to increase awareness of the FT intervention and to provide a group counselling manual in the area of FT.