Full Description
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.
Contents
Introduction. 1. An Overview of Filial Therapy and Group Filial Therapy. 2. The Selection of Suitable Participants and the Intake Process for GFT. 3. Guidelines for Conducting Successful GFT Groups. 4. The Main Skills Parents Learn in GFT. 5. Starting the GFT Program: Meeting 1. 6. Starting Play Demonstrations and Skills Learning: Meeting 2. 7. Continuing Demonstrations and Skills Practice: Meeting 3. 8. Continuing Demos and Skills Practice: Meeting 4. 9. Mock Play Sessions and Preparation for Practice Play Sessions: Meeting 5. 10. Beginning Practice Play Sessions: Meeting 6-7. 11. Parents' Second Practice Play Sessions: Meetings 8-10. 12. Transition to Home Play Sessions: Meetings 11-12. 13. Early Home Play Sessions: Meetings 13-15. 14. Generalizing Play Session Skills and Preparation for Ending: Meetings 16-19. 15. Ending the GFT Program: Meeting 20. 16. Applications of the 20 Week GFT Program. References. Appendices 1-21. Index.
