Parent Coaching.

Asking for help for our kids feels really vulnerable, because as parents we feel like we’re supposed to have all the answers.  Sometimes as a parent things do feel out of control, and we have to remember to focus on what we love about our children instead of only the problem behavior.  Parents feel so much pressure to know everything about how to be a parent, but the truth is, we’re all learning on the job.  Sometimes we get so frustrated by or focused on the problem behavior that we start to lose sight of the wonderful things about our children that make us love them.  We know that behavior is a child’s way of communicating an unmet need or missing skill set.  In therapy, we can work together from that lens to investigate what your child needs, and help them develop the abilities to ask for it in a more effective way.  We can also work to get to a place that feels like you as a parent have the knowledge to understand the “why” behind the behavior, and the skills to positively reinforce the behavior you want to see.

Filial Therapy.

Filial therapy is an extension of play therapy that invites the caregivers to act as the primary agents of change. Filial therapy may be an important adjunct service to your child’s play therapy, or it may be the primary approach to treatment. Under the supervision of the counselor, the caregiver(s) will be taught specific play therapy techniques and will practice these new skills during weekly “special playtimes” held either on-site or at home. Sessions will focus on reviewing successes and challenges that occurred during these “special playtimes” and learning new ways to enhance the sense of positive connection between parent and child.

Similarly to play therapy, filial therapy allows children to use the language of play to explore their internal experiences. Filial therapy offers the unique advantage of strengthening the child-parent interaction while creating a safe place for self-exploration. This approach can assist your child in developing or maintaining a secure attachment style through the attunement and emotional connection that are central to this relationship-based intervention. 

Filial therapy can offer many benefits for both you and your child, including:

• Enhanced emotional awareness.

• Improvement in empathy & understanding within the parent-child relationship.

• Increased confidence (for both you and your child).

• Strengthened executive functioning skills through decision-making opportunities for your child.

• Improvement in your child’s ability to regulate themselves and comply with limits.

• Stress reduction for both you and your child.