In this episode of the CCPT Purism series, I explore the work of Bernard and Louise Guerney, who extended the principles of child-centered play therapy beyond the playroom through the development of filial therapy. Their innovation marked a major turning point in the model’s evolution by shifting the role of the therapist from the primary change agent to a coach who empowers parents to support their children at home through non-directive play.

I walk through how filial therapy remains fully adherent to CCPT while providing a framework for training parents in tracking, reflecting feelings, and setting therapeutic limits. The Guerneys’ work laid the foundation for programs like CPRT, which combine CCPT principles with family engagement to dramatically improve outcomes. This episode is a call to remember our roots, honor the legacy of those who shaped this model, and stay grounded in the principles that make CCPT so powerful.

Episode References:

Guerney, B. G. (1964). Filial therapy: Description and rationale. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 28(4), 304–310. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0044594

Guerney, L. F. (2000). Parent-child interaction therapy: Filial therapy and child-centered play therapy. International Journal of Play Therapy, 9(2), 33–49. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0089442

Landreth, G. L., & Bratton, S. C. (2006). Child parent relationship therapy (CPRT): A 10-session filial therapy model. New York, NY: Routledge.

Bratton, S. C., Ray, D., Rhine, T., & Jones, L. (2005). The efficacy of play therapy with children: A meta-analytic review of treatment outcomes. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 36(4), 376–390. https://doi.org/10.1037/0735-7028.36.4.376

Ray, D. C. (2011). Advanced play therapy: Essential conditions, knowledge, and skills for child practice. New York, NY: Routledge.

LIVE, APT-approved Advanced "4-Pillars" CEU Training (Reflecting Feelings, Choice-Giving, Encouragement, Limit-Setting) Series Starting Friday March 28th Through April 11th, 2025

PlayTherapyNow.com is my HUB for everything I do! playtherapynow.com. Sign up for my email newsletter, stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice. If you click one link in these show notes, this is the one to click!

If you would like to ask me questions directly, check out www.ccptcollective.com, where I host two weekly Zoom calls filled with advanced CCPT case studies and session reviews, as well as member Q&A. You can take advantage of the two-week free trial to see if the CCPT Collective is right for you.

Ask Me Questions: Call ‪(813) 812-5525‬, or email: [email protected] Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://www.ccptcollective.com Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com Twitter: @thekidcounselor https://twitter.com/thekidcounselor Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast

Common References: Cochran, N., Nordling, W., & Cochran, J. (2010). Child-Centered Play Therapy (1st ed.). Wiley. VanFleet, R., Sywulak, A. E., & Sniscak, C. C. (2010). Child-centered play therapy. Guilford Press. Landreth, G.L. (2023). Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship (4th ed.). Routledge. Bratton, S. C., Landreth, G. L., Kellam, T., & Blackard, S. R. (2006). Child parent relationship therapy (CPRT) treatment manual: A 10-session filial therapy model for training parents. Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group. Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.