Filial Therapy In-Person Workshops

2026 Filial Therapy Training Program™

All Certified Instructors are conducting the same Intensive Filial Therapy workshop developed by Dr. Risë VanFleet that teaches the full original family therapy model of Filial Therapy as created by Drs. Bernard and Louise Guerney.

The IIFTPE offers a full two-tiered certification program for professionals who have met our stringent criteria for this credential as therapists. Dr. VanFleet’s Family Enhancement and Play Therapy Center continues to certify Filial Therapy supervisors, and instructors). The Filial Therapy credential is a full certification (different from a “certificate program”) because individuals must satisfactorily demonstrate their competencies in the understanding and effective, ethical practice of Filial Therapy. The two-tiered certification process is detailed here. To be fully certified at the advanced level, professionals must complete two specialized training programs (limited to 6 participants each) and individual or small group supervision (4 or fewer supervisees). The professionals must attend at least 150 hours of online and in-person training programs, satisfactorily complete supervision that typically takes a year. Supervisors and Instructors have additional experience, training, and competency requirements. The first step toward certification is to attend a the VanFleet Intensive Filial Therapy Training Program with a Certified FT Instructor. The current Certified Filial Instructors have achieved a high level of skill in conducting and teaching Filial Therapy, and are listed in the Directory and in the chart below.