Regulation-focused psychotherapy for children

Domain I · Psychodynamic & depth psychology · Hoffman, Rice, Prout · 2016

What it is

RFP-C is a manualised, short-term psychodynamic play therapy for children (roughly school age) with oppositional, disruptive, irritable or aggressive behaviour. Its core claim is that disruptive behaviour has meaning: it works as a defence (an avoidant mechanism) that keeps the child from feeling…

Format

• The pilot protocol sequences 4 parent meetings (P1 to P4) and 16 child sessions as follows:
• Session length: not stated. A standard 45 to 50 minute play session is likely.

Who practises it, and how they are trained or regulated

• Training in the trials: an 8-hour workshop with the manual's authors, a competency quiz, and weekly 90-minute group supervision with session-video review.
• Version followed: Hoffman, Rice & Prout (2016), Manual of Regulation-Focused Psychotherapy for Children (RFP-C) with Externalizing Behaviors: A Psychodynamic Approach (Routledge), as operationalised in the authors' pilot and RCT protocol: 16 individual child sessions (twice weekly, about 8 weeks) plus 4 parent meetings, organised in three Steps. The manual itself is not drawn on. This guide rebuilds it from the…
• RFP-C is a manualised, short-term psychodynamic play therapy for children (roughly school age) with oppositional, disruptive, irritable or aggressive behaviour. Its core claim is that disruptive behaviour has meaning: it works as a defence (an avoidant mechanism) that keeps the child from feeling painful emotions such as sadness, shame, guilt, fear or helplessness. In non-directive play, the therapist repeatedly and…

Questions to explore with your client

• What drew you to it, and what are you hoping it will change?
• Is there physical contact? Was it explained beforehand, and do you feel free to say no or stop at any point?
• Does it involve any substance, plant preparation, remedy or supplement? Has your doctor or prescriber been told, especially about any medication you take?
• Does it involve intense or unusual breathing? Have you been told about the medical conditions for which that is not advised?
• Does it involve fasting, a special diet or 'detox'? Have you discussed this with your doctor?
• Who runs it, and what training or registration do they hold?
• What actually happens in a session or meeting, and how often?
• What does it cost, and is there pressure to commit to more?
• How do you feel afterwards, in the hours and days that follow?
• Does it fit with, or clash with, the work we do here?

What practitioners of it watch for

• Parents expecting a cure. Frame progress as increased tolerance of feelings.
• Parents hearing "understanding" as "no consequences". Say clearly that limits stay.
• Do not slide into coping-skill teaching ("take a deep breath"). This was rated uncharacteristic of RFP-C.
• Planning behaviour for outside the session is rated uncharacteristic. Link and understand, don't make action plans.
• Being drawn into power struggles. It's working when the child can tolerate your comments about the two of you and the provocations soften.

When to involve someone else

• New or worsening physical symptoms, or advice to stop or change prescribed medication: involve the client's doctor or prescriber.
• Signs of coercion, isolation from family and friends, escalating costs or secrecy: discuss openly and consider safeguarding.
• A crisis or thoughts of suicide: follow your crisis protocol. In the US, call or text 988; in the UK and Ireland, Samaritans on 116 123.

Drawn automatically from the guide's own sections. Stay curious: neither endorse nor dismiss what the client values, and check anything that matters against the full guide and its sources. Not medical advice.