Family System Play Therapy: An Integrative Approach

Abstract

Although the roots of family therapy are firmly embedded in a family systems approach to treating child-focused problems, recent research suggests that the treatment of young children is relatively uncommon among family therapists. One possible reason is the dearth of family systems-based approaches for treating children. After reviewing existing treatments for children’s presenting problems, an integrated approach to family play therapy which draws upon structural, attachment, and play therapies, is theoretically conceptualized. This approach is applied to a case example of family therapy with a 9-year old boy with behavior problems and his parents. Implications for clinical application and future research are discussed.

Keywords:

• Family & couples therapy training
• family therapy interventions
• play therapy