Evaluating the effectiveness of Theraplay in treating shy, socially withdrawn children.

Abstract

Theraplay is an interactive form of short-term play therapy that incorporates the dynamics of a "healthy mother-child relationship" such as structuring, challenging, engaging, nurturing, and attachment. Additionally, Theraplay therapists use interpersonal contact and touch in joyful interactive play. The therapeutic objective is to improve the social interaction ability of infants and toddlers and, in this study, to prepare them for the subsequent treatment of their communication disorders. Two research studies are reported: 1) a controlled, longitudinal study (CLS), and 2) a Multi-Center Study (MCS). Both were designed to evaluate the effectiveness of Theraplay. The CLS, initiated in 1998, was conducted in one region of Germany, and includes an accumulated sample of 60 clinically conspicuous infants and toddlers diagnosed as having both communication and behavior disorders. All were treated using Theraplay. In a follow-up study 29 of the 60 children were evaluated to measure the lasting effects of Theraplay two years after discharge from individual treatment. This article reports the results of a selected sample of 22 of the 60 treated children who manifested clinically significant shyness and co-morbid communication disorders. They are compared with a control sample of 30 clinically unobtrusive children, matched for sex and age. The MCS, initiated in 2000, was conducted in 9 different institutions in Germany and Austria. The sample consists of 251 randomly selected children whose Theraplay treatment was completed during the years 2000-2003. Reported are the results on 125 of those children diagnosed with communication disorders and clinically significant shyness. When therapy began each child was markedly impaired. The results of both studies show that after treatment with Theraplay the target symptoms were both clinically and statistically reduced. In each study about 18, 30-minute sessions were needed to achieve the desired therapeutic outcome.

The Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy on Self Esteem of Children With Intellectual Disability

“…These findings are consistent with the results of Wettig et al's study (2011) who reported that short-term playtherapy improves children's self-esteem and trust in themselves, thereby reducing their social isolation [23]. Similarly, the results of the study by Baggerly (2004) showed that child-centered play therapy increases children's selfesteem.…”

“…According to Central Limit Theorem, the minimum sample size for experimental design is 30 [23]. However, 40 children were selected for better accuracy.…”

Application of Standardized Observation Form in School Counselling in Taiwan: Exploratory Study with Children Exhibiting Internalizing and Externalizing Behavior Concerns

“…In summary, the therapeutic relationship is key to decreasing children's internalizing problem behavior s (Carmichael, 2006;Guerney, 2001;Landreth, 2012;VanFleet, Sywulak, & Sniscak, 2010). Moreover, treatment effects of CCPT on children's internalizing behavior concerns are evident in the literature (Baggerly & Jenkins, 2009;Cheng & Tsai, 2014;Ray, Schottelkorb, & Tsai, 2007;Wettig, Coleman, & Geider, 2011).…”

Whole Family Theraplay: Integrating Family Systems Theory and Theraplay to Treat Adoptive Families

“…Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/page/termsand-conditions 1995; Sprenkle, 2002;Wettig, Coleman, & Geider, 2011). Each approach contains numerous models of treatment that have a record of usefulness for a variety of clinical issues with which adoptive families present in clinical settings.…”