Theraplay techniques are practical and play based. They aim to build relationships through fun interactive games and activities. The sessions are brief, usually thirty minutes, and lively! They aim to create opportunities for children to experience important aspects of relationships that are vital to building attachments. The parent and child will be supported by a therapist to play together using a specially designed programme which aims to address the particular issues that the child needs help with.
Programmes are typically ten to twenty sessions. Families are encouraged to learn the activities and to build them into their everyday lives.
The first appointment usually involves an assessment referred to as a MIM (Marschak Interaction Method). This is a standard set of activities for the parent/child and/or family. This is observed and/or recorded so that an assessment can be made of the main areas to focus on. It typically takes 30 minutes to an hour to complete. You, as the foster carer or parent, will then be given feedback and a treatment plan can be put together.
The activities are very simple e.g. you build a tower of the bricks and the child copies.
They are different depending upon the child’s age.
What kind of changes to you aim to achieve with Theraplay for adopted and fostered children?
Children I have worked with using this approach have gradually shown a greater capacity for fun and laughter. Through this medium, relationships are strengthened and trust is built between the child and the parent. Children learn to feel safe and to relax whilst being cared for. Behavioural difficulties have lessened and resistance to soothing and parenting has decreased. Children who have a high need for control in relationships have learnt, over time, to tolerate the parent taking charge of interactions.
How does Theraplay work for adopted and fostered children?
Children who are fostered and/or adopted have often missed out on the early foundations of effective relationship development due to neglect, abuse and/or fractured care. Theraplay techniques aim to recreate some of these early experiences in fun and developmentally appropriate ways to help children ‘catch up’ on the experiences they missed out on. The techniques involve touch, sound and movement, which are all aspects of the early building blocks laid down by the intimate interactions between a baby and its mother figure.
You don’t have to treat your child ‘like a baby’ but these early baby experiences can be recreated in fun ways.
Some basic assumptions of Theraplay are that the roots to trust and good self esteem lie in relationships developed in the early years. A goal of treatment is to change the child’s poor view of themselves which is likely to have resulted from their difficult early start in life.
Playful and responsive care are the essential ingredients for a secure attachment and positive views of oneself and others.
Theraplay aims to create some of these important aspects. It has four key areas:
Structure: An adult takes charge and the child accepts this.
Engagement: The child is focused upon intensely and learns to manage this without withdrawing.
Nurture: Soothing, calming activities help the child to feel loved.
Challenge: Fun, partnership activities that include mild, appropriate risk.
Programmes of activities are put together to involve a range of activities from these four dimensions focusing upon those that the MIM suggest will most help.
What kind of training do Theraplay Therapists have?
There are different levels of training. The training in Theraplay techniques takes five days however participants must have a professional qualification such as social work or clinical psychology first. This qualifies you to use theraplay techniques. To become certified, Theraplay therapists require further training and evaluation of clinical work.
Why are you passionate about Theraplay for fostered and adopted children?
It’s a practical fun way to make a difference for children who struggle in relationships. Parents find it makes sense to them and they quickly pick up the techniques and use them at home.
For more information try www.theraplay.org