Understanding Neurofilial Therapy

Before we examine the research, it's crucial to understand what Neurofilial Therapy entails. This therapeutic approach integrates modern principles of neuroscience with well-established traditions of filial and dyadic therapy, with particular attention to the parent-child relationship. It emphasizes understanding the child’s neurological development and how it impacts behavior, emotions, and parent-child interactions. The therapy aims to improve these interactions by educating parents on neurodevelopmental strategies, enhancing attachment, and fostering better communication and emotional regulation in children.

The Evidence: Major Research Studies on Neurofilial Therapy

Study 1: Improvements in Parenting and Social Support

This study in the International Journal of Play Therapy (Wisen-Vincent & Bokoch, 2023) piloted an online play-based Neuro-filial parenting program informed by filial therapy, child–parent relationship therapy, and interpersonal neurobiology (IPNB) during COVID-19. Quantitative results showed significant differences before to after program participation in mindful discipline in parenting and social support as a protective factor. Changes in child’s peer interactions (i.e., siblings, classmates) approached significance. These findings suggest some support for the updated online play-based parenting programs in meeting parenting needs during COVID-19.

Study 2: Greater Efficacy of Parenting Groups

Another critical study on Child parent relationship therapy (CPRT) serves as a foundation for the use of interpersonal neurobiology (IPNB) in CPRT groups (Beijan, 2020). CPRT is a form of filial therapy that focuses on improving the parent–child relationship, helping children by teaching parents to be therapeutic agents in their children’s lives. According to this article, IPNB can be utilized as a vehicle for gaining a deeper understanding of the therapeutic mechanisms of CPRT. IPNB can also be intentionally integrated into parenting group instruction and curriculum to enhance learning for group members and their children.

Study 3: Filial Therapy Improves the Parent-Child Relationship

This seminal article by the co-founder of Filial Therapy, Bernard Guerney (Guerney, 1964) described the approach in detail. Filial therapy involves training caregivers to conduct play sessions with their young children, using a method modeled after Child-centered play therapy. Parents' sessions with their therapist begin with discussion of the play sessions, but may extend to other important areas of parenting and child-rearing. Preliminary experience looking at two groups showed Filial therapy may be useful as a tool for gaining leverage in working with parent-child relationships.

Study 4: Impact on Family Relationship Quality and Communication

A key study (Cornett & Bratton, 2013) found that Child-parent relationship therapy (CPRT), a filial therapy approach, has strong effects on improving the family system. Results from self-reported measures indicated that CPRT families improved in family satisfaction, cohesion, communication, and flexibility. Observational measures also revealed improvements. The results support that the benefits of CPRT may extend beyond the parent-child relationship to the family system.

Study 5: Evidence-Basis for Filial Therapy Tradition

Louise Guerney, the co-founder of Filial therapy with Bernard Guerney, reviewed the evidence-base for the approach in this study (Guerney, 2000). Training parents to play therapeutically using this child-centered approach with their children has a long track record that demonstrates it is an effective way to work with children and their parents together. As Filial therapy is already known and widely used by practitioners, it has attained the status of an "empirically supported" or "evidence based" or "empirically validated" treatment. These terms all point to a treatment that rests on good research, with results that show its efficacy, one that can be replicated by practitioners who can justify its use under health care insurance. Only rarely does a treatment arrive already backed by empirical support of efficacy.