Theraplay: Helping Parents and Children Build Better Relationships Through Attachment-Based Play

"I was recommended this book by a social worker who specialises in adoption, and was interested as my children are adopted, and because I am a counsellor myself and am training to be a play therapist.
I found it a very interesting read, and thought it illustrated well the importance of helping children develop healthy attachments, especially those children who have been separated from their family of origin. However, the methodology of the therapy I found quite shocking. It is extremely therapist led, and, I thought, frequently humiliating, especially for parents. For example, sessions often include making an inventory of a child's small hurts and rubbing them with baby powder. I guess this is to symbolise love and care. The author is also frequently openly critical of parents' attempts to co-operate with her agenda in sessions.
I imagine that this book would appeal to those who like to work in a very tightly managed and directive way to help children and families, such as social workers may. It is less likely to appeal to mainstream play therapists, counsellors or psychotherapists who work in an exploratory way. If you are a parent of a troubled child, be prepared to find the book patronising and disparaging.
This may be one to get out from the library before thinking of buying, as I wish I had."
~ Written on 2004-01-09

"I can not say enough positive things about this outstanding book. As a child therapist, who works with many children in the foster care system and increasing numbers of adopted children, Theraplay has become the single most important tool in my repertoire of therapy modalities. It is very exciting to find a method of working with children that offers practical and impactful strategies to try, which are very different from what you may already be doing. I have also attended the Theraplay trainings at the Theraplay Institute in Chicago and am near completion of the Theraplay Certification process. Even if I am not using Theraplay with a particular child, the foundation and understanding of attachment that this model has given me pervade my work. Parents of children that I am using Theraplay with often report dramatic progress in their child's behavior and attachment to them in a short period of time. One father of an internationally adopted child that I am using Theraplay with said it best. He stated, "We finally came to realize that our child was not going to be able to fully benefit from all the supportive services we were taking him to (including occupational therapy, speech therapy, and physical therapy) until he was able to form an attachment with us. Theraplay has allowed that attachment to form and we are now seeing much more progress in other areas of development."

The model of using parents as co-therapists, as presented in the book, is very empowering to parents and the parents I use Theraplay with have many positive comments to say about this. One foster/adoptive mother recently told me she thinks that every foster or adoptive parent should be required to learn Theraplay. She adds "It has given me a whole new understanding of my adopted children and their needs."

Theraplay is not only useful for children with attachment and bonding difficulties, but I have found it particularly useful for children diagnosed with ADHD and Oppositional Defiant Disorder. This is a comprehensive book that you will refer back to again and again."
~ Written on 1999-06-27