Incorporating interpersonal neurobiology in child parent relationship therapy.

Abstract

Child parent relationship therapy (CPRT) focuses on improving the parent-child relationship, helping children by teaching parents to be therapeutic agents in their children's lives. A primary element of CPRT is the supportive group format of 6Ϫ8 parents that includes elements of didactic learning and group support. The information in this article serves as a foundation for the use of interpersonal neurobiology (IPNB) in CPRT groups. The application of IPNB in specific areas of counseling related to CPRT including counselor education, play therapy, group therapy, and psychoeducation is still new but shows promise for understanding and improving counseling. IPNB can be utilized as a vehicle for gaining a deeper understanding of the therapeutic mechanisms of CPRT, and IPNB can be intentionally integrated into CPRT group curriculum to enhance learning for group members and their children.

Effectiveness of the PlayStrong Neuro-Filial Parenting Program: A program evaluation of an online pilot during COVID-19.

“…Parents who participated in the PlayStrong online parenting curriculum were able to learn positive and effective discipline strategies and ideas for constructively responding to family and sibling conflicts, and receive direct social support and connection with other parents and facilitators, while in-person therapies and parenting support groups were widely unavailable. The application of IPNB and neuroscience concepts may have additionally enhanced the CPRT process by giving the material greater depth and increasing parents’ understanding of their children’s developmental needs (Beijan, 2020). Increasing knowledge of neurobiology seemed to strengthen the credibility and application of play-based filial techniques to address pandemic-related concerns of parents and their children, lending support to the integration of IPNB as an educational tool within CPRT, but this warrants further study.…”

“…The application of neurobiological research and interpersonal neurobiology (IPNB) may support the effectiveness of the group therapy, play therapy, and psychoeducational components of CPRT (Beijan, 2020). IPNB is an interdisciplinary framework to understand the interactions of the mind, brain, and human relationships.…”

Evidencing the therapeutic powers of play to understand the mechanism of change in filial therapy.

“…Empathy was activated within the parent–child and therapist–parent relationships. Parents experience empathy through relationships with the therapist and other participating parents, which enhance their ability to show empathy to their children (Beijan, 2020; Lim & Ogawa, 2014).…”

“…Abreaction was activated within the therapist–parent relationship and group process. Beijan (2020) explained that “group members have the freedom to change their experience of painful or traumatic memories by exploring implicit and explicit elements of memories while feeling an empathic and regulated response from group members” (p. 69).…”

“…There were three examples of catharsis activated within the child, parent, and therapist–parent relationship. For example, Tal and Tal (2017, p. 154) exhibited, “In the play space, [the child] could kill her mother with a pistol of her wrath, and her mother could fall over, die or be injured—but it was not for real; it was all a game.” Beijan (2020, p. 66) also described the group experience as “cathartic because members express and process previously unexplored feelings.”…”