Title

High School Students As Therapeutic Agents With Young Children Experiencing Schooladjustment Difficulties: The Effectiveness Of A Filial Therapy Training Model

Abstract

Filial therapy has been used since the early 1960s to train parents as therapeutic agents for children experiencing a broad range of social, emotional and behavioral difficulties. Using a pretest-posttest control group design, this study examined the efficacy of a filial therapy model in training high school students to be effective helpers with young children experiencing school adjustment difficulties. High school students enrolled in a Peer Assistance and Leadership course titled PALs were trained to become therapeutic change agents for identified pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students. The PALs students received training and supervision in child-centered play therapy skills that they practiced in weekly play sessions with their assigned child. Results from the statistical analyses revealed that the experimental group of high school students receiving filial therapy training demonstrated a significant increase in their empathic interactions with children and that the experimental group of children receiving the play therapy intervention experienced a significant reduction in problem behaviors. © 2002 Association for Play Therapy.

Publication Date

12-1-2002

Publication Title

International Journal of Play Therapy

Volume

11

Issue

2

Number of Pages

43-62

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1037/h0088864

Socpus ID

68149111155 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/68149111155

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