Information for Parents and Carers

How can Dyadic Theraplay® help us?

Theraplay® is a child and family therapy that focuses on supporting a child’s positive

behavioural and emotional responses through the parent-child relationship.  Theraplay® helps the child experience previously difficult interactions in new ways, overcoming overcome fear and increasing trust, which creates a positive change in the child’s sense of self.  Theraplay® helps the parent to be attuned to the child, understand the motives of the child’s behaviour and the underlying needs, manage environmental stimuli, and carefully challenge the child in a safe place.  Theraplay®  is appropriate for all ages, from infancy through adolescence.

What does a typical session look like?

Sessions may last between 20 minutes to an hour and the length of each session will  depend on several factors.  Who is in a session can vary too, but often there is one parent or carer, the child and the Theraplay® practitioner.  In the session, the practitioner guides the parent and child through playful games, challenging activities, and nurturing interactions. This series of sessions will be interspersed with parent/practitioner review sessions which provide reflection and facilitate a growing awareness of your child’s needs.

Both images – © [AntonioDiaz] / Adobe Stock

How does Theraplay® differ from other types of child therapy?

Theraplay© focuses on the parent-child relationship as the most powerful and influential element for change.

• It directly involves the parents or caregivers
• It is active, interpersonal and fun – it is not “talk therapy”
• Progress can be made quickly
• It focuses on the “here and now” rather than what happened in the past
• Since it does not involve verbal or symbolic understanding, it can be used with very young children, children with developmental delays and children with traumatic experiences early in life
• The Theraplay® approach ‘flows’ well from a clinical setting or sessions to the home for long-term results

Theraplay® has been used successfully to help children experiencing a variety of challenges including:

© [Ermolaev Alexandr] / Adobe Stock

• Defiant and controlling or withdrawn and shy behaviour
• Depression
• Anxiety and Selective Mutism
• Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome and other Developmental Disorders
• Attention and hyperactivity concerns
• A history of trauma or neglect
• Attachment issues due to adoption or multiple family placements
• Medical trauma