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Theraplay® uses the relationship of the most important people in the child’s life (caregivers) to help build resilience and regulation. Theraplay® uses practitioner guidance to create playful and caring child-adult interactions that foster joyful shared experiences in the here and now. The interactions are personal, physical and fun – a natural way for everyone to experience the healing power of being together! I’ve included a video with this blog post, so you can get an idea of what Theraplay®-informed therapy looks like.
Who can benefit from Theraplay®?
Theraplay® is useful for a wide variety of social and emotional difficulties. It's a great way to strengthen family bonds as it is attachment and relationally focused! It can be effective for children experiencing dysregulation, low self-esteem, anxiety, adoption/foster issues, separation/divorce, trauma, neurodivergence, etc. The typical age range for clients is from 0 – 12 years, although it can be adapted for teens.
Sessions include:
Structuring activities to organize and regulate, such as playing cotton ball hockey or counting while playing bean bag drop (see video);
Engaging activities to connect in a playful, positive way, such as popping bubbles with parts of body, like using crab “hands” (see video);
Nurturing activities to let child know they are worthy of care, such as matching stickers on different parts of the body (see video) or lotion or powder foot or handprints;
Challenging activities to encourage taking age-appropriate risks for feelings of competence and mastery, such as feather blow activity (see video), newspaper karate chop or hand stacking.
Theoretical Basis and Evidence-Based
Theraplay® is based in attachment theory and informed by research and theory from other approaches such Polyvagal Theory (Porges) and Neurosequential model (Perry). It is evidenced-based and recognized by the Association for Play Therapy as a seminal foundational theory.
Is Theraplay®-informed Approach Right for your family?
Mindful Connections Counseling has two clinicians that are trained in Theraplay®-informed therapy, Carolyn Moreau (carolyn@mindfulconnectionstx.com) or Rosie Worthington (rosie@mindfulconnectonstx.com). Please reach out for more information.
Source
Level One Theraplay®& Marschak Interaction Method training, November 2025, Chicago, IL
Peacock, Fiona, Phd. Theraplay, Attachment & Trauma: Theory and Research Supporting the Core Model. March 2023
The Theraplay® Institute, Theraplay.org
Vivien Norris, Phd, Dafna Lender, LCSW. Theraplay®: The Practitioners Guide. 2020
