title: Harnessing the Power of Play in Emotionally Focused Family Therapy With Preschool Children.
abstract: Emotionally focused family therapy (EFFT) is an attachment-based therapy model that has been used with older children and adolescents. More recently, it has been suggested for use with young children. EFFT holds promise as a clinical treatment for young children coping with attachment problems, but more detailed guidelines are needed for implementing the model with this age-group. Whereas preschool and kindergarten age children are less able to participate in talk therapy than older children, accommodations need to be made to this approach when the identified patient is a young child. This article offers a variety of play therapy activities that may be incorporated within an EFFT framework to strengthen the emotional bonds in families with children ages four to six.
authors.affiliation: Argosy University. willis.amber.b@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Amber B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Willis
authors.affiliation: Missouri State University.
authors.forename: Darryl R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Haslam
authors.affiliation: University of Georgia.
authors.forename: J Maria
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bermudez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004644:Emotions; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009769:Object Attachment; D010989:Play Therapy / Q000379:methods*