Filial Play Coaching

Enhancing the parent-child relationship through harnessing the power of play

Filial Play Coaching is an empowering play-based intervention that gives control back to parents by providing a set of skills which can be applied to lifelong situations. This approach teaches the parent to conduct special non-directive play sessions with their child as part of a process that can strengthen the parent-child relationship.

Suitable for the parents of children aged between 18 months and 15 years old, Tara works one-to-one with parents, helping them develop increased listening skills, stronger parent/child relationships, reduced emotional and behavioural problems and better boundaries and consistency. The parent will then use these skills with their child, through structured play times at home, which are reviewed with Tara during weekly consultations.

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What does it involve?

Coaching Sessions

The Programme starts with a meeting with Tara which will include a brief child assessment and discussion about your needs and goals. You will then have a 20 minute parent-child observation to help Tara identify the best starting point. Following this you will meet Tara weekly for 60 minutes. Typically, the Filial Play Coaching Programme takes 12 weeks.

Four key skills

During the play sessions, parents are taught to apply four key skills:

Consistency; Boundaries; Focusing &

Noticing and Reflecting. In time, these skills become generalised to everyday situations, strengthening the parent-child relationship and reducing your child's challenging behaviours.

Learning by Doing

Filial Play Coaching is both a psychoeducational intervention and an experiential one. You will be helped to:

Understand and respond to your child’s worries and feelings
Encourage co-operation and communication
Develop self-confidence
Trust in your child's capabilities

Commitment to your child

Being consistent and predictable is a key factor in helping your child feel safe and secure. The Filial Programme relies on you being able to offer 5 x ten minute structured play sessions with your child at home. These can be fit around your schedule and will be reviewed with Tara during weekly sessions.