The best of both worlds: child therapy and family therapy!

Child-oriented family therapy was developed by the Norwegian child psychologist Martin Soltvedt. It puts the child¿s perspective at the middle of family therapy. Child-oriented family therapy is appropriate for families with children up to the age of 10, who often get lost in the shuffle. This new overarching method combines elements of classical play therapy and systemic family therapy.First, the therapist plays with the child alone, recording the sequence on video. Then, the therapist talks to the parents to draw parallels from the family¿s everyday life. Finally, the parents and the child play together to reveal family interaction patterns as well as the innerworld of the child. Together with the parents alternative behaviours are developed that are then applied in the next play session. To support this work therapists can introduce their own alter egos into the play situation.Child-oriented family therapy is a very useful supplement to systemic therapy with children. It may also be used by child therapists to include the parents more directly in the therapeutic process.