By Jenny Amerin Ms. Amerin is a therapist at Rejuvenate in Lees Summit who sees children from ages 2 and up, teens, adults, couples, and families.
As a parent, how many times during the week are you able to give undivided attention to one task? It can be so challenging as a parent giving your whole attention to just one thing for 30 minutes. There might be something else that comes up that is more important. Parenting is an incredibly challenging and demanding job. As you are trying to balance everything else in your life you are also faced with providing everything for your children. You are trying to best meet their needs in every way. Like a modern-day superhero, you are managing it all. However, sometimes superheroes need sidekicks to help them complete everyday tasks. These sidekicks can look like grandparents, teachers, babysitters, or even 
sometimes therapists. Therapists can bring a unique perspective for families they may have never considered before. These perspectives can aide parents understanding of their child and give them some tools to help them along the way.
One tool a therapist might suggest is Filial Therapy. Filial Therapy is a way for therapists to invite parents into the playroom in as a collaborative change agent for their child. Filial therapy provides parents the tools to bring the benefits of child-centered play therapy to the home, acting as a major influence on a systemic level. Parents play an essential role in their children’s lives. Parents are exceptionally important to the therapeutic process in Filial Therapy. When parents transition into this new role for their child, they are a part of their child’s therapeutic journey. Filial therapy can be a great way to strengthen the attachment bond a parent has with their child.
Although it may be intimidating as a parent being invited into the playroom or therapy room in general. Therapists are there every step of the way with the family. They want to help build the parents confidence and strengthen the attachment bond between the parents and children. Therapists are there to train and supervise parents as they conduct non-directive play sessions with their children.
Filial therapy focuses on four important skills: empathic listening, structuring, imaginary play, and limit setting. Empathetic listening encourages the child’s emotional expression and increases parent’s awareness of their child’s emotional experience. Structuring empowers parents to give guidance to their child about the nature of the play sessions. Imaginary play allows the parent to step into the imaginary experience of their child’s play. Limit setting enables parents to create boundaries necessary to ensure child’s and their own safety. The therapist is giving feedback after the sessions directly to the parents to help them further develop these skills. Throughout sessions, therapists will guide parents on how to incorporate more of these skills from the playroom into real life settings.
Filial therapy can be beneficial for children and parents in many situations. Filial therapy is most effective for children 2 to 10 years old. Children who can benefit from filial therapy may be experiencing difficulty with life transitions (example: moving, parental divorce, grief, and adoption/foster care). Children who are experiencing symptoms of extreme worry or panic, depressed mood, attachment issues, and aggressive behaviors may also benefit from filial therapy. In situations where children have witnessed or experienced a traumatic event filial therapy can be effective with a safe guardian. Filial therapy takes typically 16 to 20 sessions to be fully effective.
If you are interested in learning more about filial therapy or child-centered play therapy, please contact Jenny Amerin at Rejuvenate to set up a free 15-minute consultation. We can devise a plan to best meet your needs!
Contact today to make an appointment with Jenny Amerin: Call / Text: 816-761-3944 or email info@rejuvenatekc.com
