Filial Play Therapy in Work with Youth (6 BBS CEUs)

Filial Therapy is an integration of non-directive play therapy, family therapy, and parenting skills designed for children between the ages of 3 and 12. It can be used for younger teens with modifications. Parents and caretakers are taught to carry out dyadic play sessions with their child by the therapist, supervised by the therapist in the office, and then helped to transfer the sessions to home. In the process parenting skills, a core part of the play sessions, are generalized; the therapist and the parenting person work together to understand the child and to make effective changes, making the caretaker the child’s healer. This intervention is very effective with attachment issues and has been used extensively with foster parents; it is philosophically a collaborative model and is usually not seen as a criticism of parenting skills. Explore the value of play, the history and principles of filial play therapy and child-centered play therapy (CCPT), structures and phases of these types of therapy, and group variations. 6 CA BBS Ceus available.

Instructor KAREN PERNET, LCSW, is a registered play therapist and supervisor. Additionally, she is certified in Gestalt Therapy. Her career highlights include over 30 years of social work experience as a psychotherapist, supervisor, trainer and child welfare caseworker. Ms. Pernet is experienced with EAP, brief and long-term therapy, individual and couples therapy, child and family therapy, and supervision, consultation and training. Her special interests and skills include play therapy & Filial Family Therapy, foster & adoption issues, parent education, sexual abuse treatment and trauma therapy, including Somatic Experiencing.