Description
Filial Therapy: Parents Using Play, May 2-4, 2025 (in-person) – 20 CEUs;
Cost: $650 (early bird) $700 after March 28, 2025
DESCRIPTION:
In-Person Training
WORK TOWARD BECOMING A REGISTERED PLAY THERAPIST
Filial Therapy is a well researched evidence based training model that integrates “the magic” of Child-Centered Play Therapy with direct parent involvement. Parents using play learn to enter into their child’s world. In Filial Therapy the therapist trains parents to become the healer of their own child in a process which enhances the parent/child relationship. Additionally, the skills involved are foundational for positive and effective parenting. Play is the language of children and when parents learn to let their child lead the play and at the same time practice effective structuring and limit setting, the parent-child relationship deepens, which provides a path to long lasting healing.
Filial Therapy training is limited to 6 participants to permit extensive skill practice with individualized coaching and feedback. The leader will present using a combination of didactic material, case studies and videos, live demonstrations and supervision/feedback to participants as they practice during role plays. This highly experiential training will take place in the Growth through Play Therapy training room.
At the conclusion of the workshop, participants will be offered the opportunity to register for a 3 hour Zoom follow up Workshop and Consultation to review and respond to individual questions and experience in applying the model.
For therapists who are interested in becoming Certified Filial Therapists by NIRE (National Institute for Relationship Enhancement), this training is the initial step. NIRE was established by Louise and Bernard Guerney, who developed Filial Therapy in the 1960s. See www.nire.org for details.
Participant feedback from recent training: “Loved the training….Knowledge the instructors had ..very helpful…their expertise clearly showed” “Great workshop, roleplaying very helpful” “Roleplays really fun and instructive”
TIME AND DATE:
In person training: May 2-4, 2025 (in-person); Friday/Saturday schedule: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM, Sunday Schedule : 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM. There will be a one hour lunch break and a 15 minute break in the morning and afternoon.
LOCATION: 3468 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Suite B203, Lafayette, CA 94549
TARGET AUDIENCE: This course is designed for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, LEPs and pre-licensed associates
Prerequisites: Both training and experience in Child Centered Play Therapy are required. Training must include a two-day training workshop in Child-Centered Play Therapy offered by Growth Through Play Training Associates, National Institute of Relationship Enhancement (NIRE), University of North Texas, Chesapeake Bay Professional Seminars or similar programs based upon the books/writings of Axline, Moustakas, Ginott, Landreth, Cochran/Nordling, Van Fleet/Sywulak/Sniscak, or Ginsburg. Otherwise, it is recommended that those interested in this workshop take Growth Through Play Training Associates’ two-day Child Centered Play Therapy workshop. If you have questions about this, send a brief description of your relevant experience and feel free to contact Jeannette Harroun by e-mail (jeannette@bayarea-counseling.com) with any questions you may have.
Recommended reading: Group Filial Therapy: The Complete Guide to Teaching Parents to Play Therapeutically with their Children by Louise Guerney and Virginia Ryan or Filial Therapy: Strengthening Parent-Child Relationships through Play by Risë VanFleet.
TRAINER: Jeannette Harroun, LMFT, RPT is a Marriage and Family Therapist and Registered Play Therapist. She holds certifications from the National Institute of Relationship Enhancement (NIRE) as a practitioner, supervisor and educator in both Child Centered Play Therapy and Filial Family Therapy. She has a private practice in Lafayette, CA where she provides psychotherapy and individual consultation and supervision. Her approach to therapy is described as positive, warm and playful. She works with children, teens and parents in addressing a variety of concerns including self-regulation, self-esteem, attachment, tantrums and impulsivity, parenting/co-parenting/blended family issues, anxiety, depression, school and motivational issues, trauma, and divorce. She offers supervision and consultation for therapists seeking the Registered Play Therapist designation. She regularly teaches CEU courses with Growth Through Play Therapy Training Associates as well as other organizations and has been an adjunct faculty member with the University of Phoenix and a workshop provider with John F. Kennedy University and provided numerous trainings and workshops.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Describe the benefits of teaching parents to use non-directive play, based on Child Centered Play Therapy with their own children.
- Identify and describe the four basic skills associated with nondirective, child centered play which are taught to parents in Filial Play Therapy
- Demonstrate the four basic skills of Child Centered Play Therapy.
- Identify the criteria used to identify whether parents or children are appropriate candidates for Filial Play Therapy training.
- Name 3 types of presenting situations for which Filial Play Therapy would be helpful and one type of situation where it would be contraindicated.
- Describe the steps of the parent feedback process used in supervising parent’s Filial Play Therapy sessions with their children.
- Identify the criteria for prioritizing the feedback provided to parents after Filial Play Therapy training sessions.
- Identify the stages of Filial Play Therapy and how to prepare parents for home sessions.
- Identify 2 or more Filial Play Therapy formats and the similarities and differences of each.
CONTINUING EDUCATION:
This course meets the qualifications for 20 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCC, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. Growth Through Play Therapy is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, 1032322, to sponsor continuing education for LMFT’S, LCSW’S, LPCC’S AND LEP’S. They maintain responsibility for this program/course and its content. 12 CEs-$25 additional charge. Purchase separately.
Growth through Play Therapy is an approved provider for the Association for Play Therapy – APT 09-241. There is no extra charge for APT CEs. Partial credit cannot be offered.
ACCOMONDATIONS
To request accommodations for special needs, please email the Program Administrator at jeannette@bayarea-counseling.com
GRIEVANCES
To obtain the grievance policy or report a grievance please email jeannette@bayarea-counseling.com or call 925-890-7478.
CERTIFICATES
Course Completion certificates will be awarded at the end of the course in exchange for a completed evaluation form. Course meets the qualifications for 20 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. Growth through Play Therapy is an approved provider for The Association of Play Therapy, 09-241
CANCELLATION POLICY
Full refund if canceled 60 days in advance minus $75 administrative fee; In the event that a request is made for a future training, it would need to be in writing via e-mail and confirmed by Karen Pernet or Jeannette Harroun by e-mail. After 60 days there will be no refund unless space is filled from the waiting list. In that case, the payment will be refunded minus the administrative fee. If there is insufficient enrollment or unforeseen event, the training will be postponed or cancelled and there will be a full refund offered.
QUESTIONS
Contact Jeannette Harroun jeannette@bayarea-counseling.co
ENHANCE YOUR PLAY THERAPY SKILLS
