Received: April 29, 2018 Revised: June 18, 2018 Accepted: June 19, 2018
Abstract
This study found that child survivors of the 2015 Nepal earthquake have suffered psychological trauma and unstable living conditions in the aftermath. Furthermore, if the children’s trauma is neglected, it is likely to be aggravated and become chronic until adulthood. Parent-child relationships are the first relationship that a child has, and parents and children tend to have a close relationship with each other. Through this relationship, the child grows and develops. Filial play therapy has proven to be effective as a psychological intervention program for children in parent-child relationships. This study examined the effects of filial play therapy on the somatization symptoms, parent-child interaction, and empathy ability of child survivors of the Nepal earthquake. As a result, the children’s symptoms of somatization were found to have significantly decreased, and it was effective in enhancing parent-child interaction and parental empathy. We also analyzed the process of change through filial play therapy with the parents. As a result, we were able to see the process of change and understand the anxious minds of those parents tried to read their children’s minds.