A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

The impact of Theraplay® therapy on parent-child interaction and child psychiatric symptoms: a pilot study




AuthorsSaara Salo, Marjo Flykt, Jukka Mäkelä, Lotta Lassenius-Panula, Riikka Korja, Sandra Lindaman, Raija-Leena Punamäki

PublisherTaylor and Francis Ltd.

Publication year2020

JournalInternational Journal of Play

Journal name in sourceInternational Journal of Play

Volume9

Issue3

First page 331

Last page352

ISSN2159-4937

eISSN2159-4953

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1080/21594937.2020.1806500


Abstract

Theraplay® is a short-term parent–child interaction therapy combining structured, attachment-based, joyful and adult-led playful sessions with reflective guidance work with the parents. This pilot study evaluates the impact of Theraplay® therapy in improving the quality of parent–child interaction and decreasing the internalizing and externalizing symptoms of children diagnosed with emotional and/or behavioral disorders. Participants were eighteen 4–8 year-old children (M = 4.42, SD = 1.54) from two outpatient child psychiatric clinics whose mothers, and in 13 of those cases fathers also participated in the Theraplay® therapy together with the child. Pre- and post-treatment measures included videotaped observations of parent–child interaction quality, and child psychiatric symptoms (CBCL). The results showed improvements in parent–child interaction quality as well as decreases in children's internalizing and externalizing symptoms. The results of this pilot study indicate that Theraplay® therapy may be an effective treatment among children diagnosed with emotional and/or behavioral psychiatric disorders.



Last updated on 2024-26-11 at 12:35