Child-centered Play Therapy Research Articles

The power of Filial Relationship Enhancement therapy as an intervention in child abuse and neglect.

Identified variables that influence intervention in child abuse and neglect and proposes a constructive approach that can help these children and their families change. This is a difficult and complex societal problem, and it is difficult to tease out the specific elements that are responsible for the frequency of its occurrence. The family context is often recognized as having a significant influence. Filial Relationship Enhancement, using an improved family context to support gains, has a long history of research and practice to support its efficacy to intervene in difficulties that impede optimum functioning in children. Filial Relationship Enhancement helps parents learn to conduct weekly child-centered play therapy sessions with their own children at home. This article presents the basic assumptions and the rationale for considering the potential power of this approach. It also describes a program of intervention incorporated by a child protective unit of a county agency. Using informal measures, outcomes are described as well. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)

Child-centered play therapy.

Child-centered play therapy.

Filial therapy with Native Americans on the Flathead Reservation.

This study was designed to determine the effectiveness of the 10-week filial therapy model as an intervention for Native American parents and their children residing on the Flathead Reservation in Montana. Filial therapy is an approach used by play therapists to train parents to be therapeutic agents with their own children. Parents are taught basic child-centered play therapy skills and practice those skills during weekly play sessions with their children. The purpose of this study was to determine if filial therapy is effective in: 1) increasing parental acceptance of Native Americans residing on the Flathead Reservation of their children; 2) reducing the stress level of those parents; 3) improving empathic behaviors of those parents toward their children; 4) changing the play behaviors of children with their parents who participated in the training; and, 5) enhancing the self-concept of those children. The experimental group parents (N=11) received 10 weekly 2-hour filial therapy training sessions and participated in weekly 30-minute play sessions with one of their children. The control group (N=10) received no treatment during the 10 weeks. All adult participants completed the Porter Parental Acceptance Scale and the Parenting Stress Index. Child participants completed the Joseph Pre-school and Primary Self Concept Screening Test. Parent and child participants were videotaped playing together in 20-minute videotaped play sessions before and after the training to measure empathic behavior in parent-child interactions and desirable play behaviors in children. Analyses of Covariance revealed that the Native American parents in the experimental group significantly increased their level of empathy in their interactions with their children. Experimental group children significantly increased their level of desirable play behaviors with their parents. Although parental acceptance, parental stress, and children's self concept did not improve significantly, all measures indicated positive trends. In addition, this study gives rise to questions regarding the suitability of current self concept measurement instruments for Native American children and possible cultural differences in parent stress and parental acceptance.

Filial therapy: effects on two children's behavior and mothers' stress.

Due to patients' continual and natural contact with their children, as well as shortages of professionals, parents are increasingly being asked to play a significant role in treatment for the children's emotional and behavior problems. Filial therapy is a treatment that involves parents by teaching parents to conduct child-centered play therapy sessions with their children. The current study sought to examine filial therapy effectiveness by measuring changes in children's behavior and parental stress in parenting. Mothers of two preschool children were administered the Behavior Assessment for Children and the Parenting Stress Index prior to, following completion of, and 2 mo. after participating in a 10-wk. filial therapy training program. Results suggest significant decreases in externalizing behaviors and decreased parenting stress for one parent of the two children. Informal parental reports of changes suggest that parents saw improved relationships with their children, their own confidence increased, generalization of skills, and improvements with regard to behavior problems.

Impact of child-centered play therapy on the self-esteem, locus of control, and anxiety of at-risk 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students.

Impact of child-centered play therapy on the self-esteem, locus of control, and anxiety of at-risk 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students.

FILIAL THERAPY: EFFECTS ON TWO CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR AND MOTHERS' STRESS

Due to parents' continual and natural contact with their children, as well as shortages of professionals, parents are increasingly being asked to play a significant role in treatment for the children's emotional and behavior problems. Filial therapy is a treatment that involves parents by teaching parents to conduct child-centered play therapy sessions with their children. The current study sought to examine filial therapy effectiveness by measuring changes in children's behavior and parental stress in parenting. Mothers of two preschool children were administered the Behavior Assessment for Children and the Parenting Stress Index prior to, following completion of, and 2 mo. after participating in a 10-wk. filial therapy training program. Results suggest significant decreases in externalizing behaviors and decreased parenting stress for one parent of the two children. Informal parental reports of changes suggest that parents saw improved relationships with their children, their own confidence increased, generalization of skills, and improvements with regard to behavior problems.

Therapeutic Work with Children and Young People. B. Copley & B. Forryan. London: Cassell, 1997. pp. 214. £45.00 (hb), £16.99 (pb). Child Centred Play Therapy (2nd Edn.). J. West. London: Arnold, 1996. pp. 244. £13.99 (pb).

<b>Therapeutic Work with Children and Young People.</b> B. Copley &amp; B. Forryan. London: Cassell, 1997. pp. 214. £45.00 (hb), £16.99 (pb). <b>Child Centred Play Therapy (2nd Edn.).</b> J. West. London: Arnold, 1996. pp. 244. £13.99 (pb).

Intensive child-centered play therapy with child witnesses of domestic violence.

Examined the effectiveness of child-centered play therapy sessions every day for 2 wks as an intervention for child witnesses of domestic violence. 22 children (aged 4-10 yrs) participated. The analyses of covariance indicated that children in the experimental group experience a significant increase in self-concept, a significant decrease in external and total behavior problems, a significant increase in the play behavior of physical proximity to the therapist, and a significant increase in the play behavior of nurturing and creative play themes. The results support utilizing intensive play therapy to treat child witnesses of domestic violence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)

Two Very Different Approaches: Child Centred Play Therapy (2nd edition) Children's Stories in Play Therapy

Two Very Different Approaches: Child Centred Play Therapy (2nd edition) Children's Stories in Play Therapy

Children's Perceptions of Filial Therapy

Filial therapy is a relatively new and unique form of parent training in which parents are taught basic child-centered play therapy skills to use in weekly play sessions with their children. The effectiveness of this approach has been demonstrated with parents who find filial therapy to be a valuable tool in decreasing conflict in the home and in fostering a better relationship with their children. This article provides insight into children's perceptions, interpretations, and memories of their experiences in filial therapy and the general effect on their behavior. It also provides insight into the parents' experiences, and the perceived changes that have taken place in their family as a result of filiai therapy.

Evaluating the impact of child-centered play therapy training.

Evaluating the impact of child-centered play therapy training.

Filial Therapy

Filial therapy, a program that teaches parents to engage in child-centered play therapy with their own children, can be an effective bridge between individual child treatment and family therapy. The program has many benefits for the family therapist addressing child related problems, and it has been widely supported by outcome research. Included is a case example which illustrates the usefulness of the approach.

Parents as Partners in Treating Behavior Problems in Early Childhood Settings

An intervention program of proven value in changing problematic child behaviors is described. It features two components---child-centered play therapy and employment of parents as primary change agents---that empower parents with the understanding and skills to facilitate their child's behavioral improvement at home and at school. Interested educators can learn the program principles to improve child or family functioning and/or communicate more effectively with parents about the emotional issue of their child's school adjustment.