A guide for therapists to train parents in conducting therapeutic play sessions with their own children

In Group Filial Therapy (GFT), therapists train parents to conduct play sessions with their own children to help meet children's therapeutic needs, and to transfer appropriate skills to family life. Based on parents' application of Child-Centred Play Therapy, taught and supervised by filial therapists, this evidence-based method is highly effective for working with families from diverse backgrounds and locations.

This book provides an accessible guide to the theory and practice of GFT, and for the first time offers step-by-step guidelines for implementing the GFT program developed by Dr Guerney, the co-creator of Filial Therapy. Important practical considerations are addressed by Dr Guerney and Dr Ryan, such as how to determine the composition of groups and the duration of programs, and how to conduct Filial Therapy intakes. The facilitative attitudes and skills needed to be an effective Filial Therapy group leader are also described, and comprehensive instructions for implementing Dr Guerney's 20-week model of GFT are provided. The book closes with examples of how the program may be adapted to meet the needs of special groups.

Replete with examples and dialogues bringing to life the group process, this definitive guide will enable therapists already familiar with the method, as well as those wishing to learn it, to maximise the fulfilment of therapeutic goals for participating families. Practitioners in mental health, social services and counselling, as well as parenting experts, play and filial therapists and therapists in training will find that this book expands and enriches the services they can offer their clients.

"The book provides detailed guidance, problem solving and resources on how to set-up and run a GFT group... If you work with families where children are traumatised, have emotional difficulties, conduct disorder, poor family relationships, are adopted/fostered, then filial therapy could provide an intervention which effects change where other parenting programmes may not." - Professional Social Work

"The aim of this book is to provide a complete guide to the theory and practice of Group Filial Therapy (GFT)... this book goes into vast amounts of detail and appears to consider every possible problem which may arise... This book would be useful for educational psychologists who work (or are interested in working) therapeutically with parents or carers of children for whom attachment difficulties, early trauma, serious anxiety or emotional regulation have made other interventions problematic." - Debate - British Psychological Society