Family Therapy
All families experience loss and suffering at times. Despair, confusion, anger, anxiety: all of these can be signs that the relational dynamics in the family system are hurting.
During tough times family therapy can be a safe holding environment for your family to explore feelings and family relationships to discover what is underneath the troubling dynamics.
Through talk, relational activities, and family play, together we help your family gain tools to rebuild your family system in a healthier way and form stronger bonds and positive relationships.
During tough times family therapy can be a safe holding environment for your family to explore feelings and family relationships to discover what is underneath the troubling dynamics.
Through talk, relational activities, and family play, together we help your family gain tools to rebuild your family system in a healthier way and form stronger bonds and positive relationships.
The challenges we face as parents are
an invitation to grow ... and to heal.
The path of parenthood can be a profound journey of spiritual and psychological growth.
Our children are always trying to tell us something, and if we listen deeply enough to our inner truth and to one another, we can uncover the roots of the problems and begin to heal.
Our mission is to help parents to increase their confidence and skills through learning to connect more deeply to themselves, their family, their life.
In our work we will offer an empathic ear, practical suggestions, and gentle guidance to heal your own inner wounds that the journey of parenting uncovers. Through this work you will empower yourself to create loving and genuine relationships with your children, gain skills and confidence to meet your family authentically, and uncover the strong family you are within.
an invitation to grow ... and to heal.
The path of parenthood can be a profound journey of spiritual and psychological growth.
Our children are always trying to tell us something, and if we listen deeply enough to our inner truth and to one another, we can uncover the roots of the problems and begin to heal.
Our mission is to help parents to increase their confidence and skills through learning to connect more deeply to themselves, their family, their life.
In our work we will offer an empathic ear, practical suggestions, and gentle guidance to heal your own inner wounds that the journey of parenting uncovers. Through this work you will empower yourself to create loving and genuine relationships with your children, gain skills and confidence to meet your family authentically, and uncover the strong family you are within.
Filial Therapy
For young children, Filial (Parent-Child dyadic therapy) is the therapy of choice. "Filial therapy" refers to a type of therapy where a therapist teaches parents how to use play therapy techniques with their children, essentially acting as a coach to strengthen the parent-child relationship and address potential behavioral or emotional issues in the child, often utilizing a child-centered approach. Filial therapy is typically short-term.
Key points about filial therapy:
Session 1 (P): Intake
Session 2 (CP): Family play observation (therapist observes family playing naturally together)
Session 3 (CP): Demonstration of CCPT: therapist does a child centered play therapy session with the child while the parent(s) watch (ideally in person, though this has been successfully done over video)
Session 4 (P): Parent session discussing findings from session 2 &3 and explaining rationale for Filial Therapy
Sessions 5-7 (P): Parent Training sessions to teach Filial Skills
5) Structuring and Empathic Listening Skill
6) Imaginative Role Play Skill
7) Limit-Setting Skill
Sessions 8-11 (CP): Supervised parent-play sessions (therapist observes and coaches parent in the moment of play. Can be done in person or virtually)
Sessions 12+: Meet with parents to discuss play sessions, themes, and address challenges at home. Transition to parent support and individual play therapy if appropriate
Key points about filial therapy:
- Focus on parent-child relationship:
The primary goal is to improve the bond between parent and child by teaching parents how to interact with their children in a therapeutic way through play. - Play therapy techniques:
Therapists train parents in basic play therapy skills like non-directive play, allowing children to express themselves freely and explore their emotions through play. - Parent as the change agent:
Unlike traditional therapy where the child is the primary focus, filial therapy empowers parents to become the primary agents of change for their children. - Benefits:
Can help address various issues like anxiety, depression, behavioral problems, attachment issues, and trauma in children
Session 1 (P): Intake
Session 2 (CP): Family play observation (therapist observes family playing naturally together)
Session 3 (CP): Demonstration of CCPT: therapist does a child centered play therapy session with the child while the parent(s) watch (ideally in person, though this has been successfully done over video)
Session 4 (P): Parent session discussing findings from session 2 &3 and explaining rationale for Filial Therapy
Sessions 5-7 (P): Parent Training sessions to teach Filial Skills
5) Structuring and Empathic Listening Skill
6) Imaginative Role Play Skill
7) Limit-Setting Skill
Sessions 8-11 (CP): Supervised parent-play sessions (therapist observes and coaches parent in the moment of play. Can be done in person or virtually)
Sessions 12+: Meet with parents to discuss play sessions, themes, and address challenges at home. Transition to parent support and individual play therapy if appropriate