Before Theraplay sessions begin in their entirety, background information will need to be gathered. An extensive family history will be taken by meeting caregivers individually. These information gathering sessions are a vital time in building therapeutic rapport with the parents.
The Marschak Interaction Method (MIM) is an assessment that can be used to plan treatment and help families determine their strengths and weaknesses. The MIM allows a close observation of the relationship between a caregiver and the child, using a set of structured tasks that must be completed (Booth & Jernberg, 1999). Although Theraplay is most likely to be conducted with one caregiver in the beginning, it is helpful to conduct the MIM with both parents. This is because Group Family Theraplay can be used after the dyadic therapy is over. There are four main dimensions that are focused upon; whilst each is important, Theraplay will depend on the child-parent’s individual needs and form the basis of the treatment plan. These dimensions will be described below, followed by a short case study illustrating different activities across the four dimensions that were used. The ability
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Theraplay can be used as a short term intervention because of its directive and engaging nature. Focusing on the way in which the parent and child pair interact and relate to one and another, improvement can evidently be noticed in just a few sessions. The nature of the playful activities can allow positive change to occur; the parent may be able to witness the relationship in a fresh light, often breaking cycles of mistrust. If the parent is able to sense positive energy in the child, then the child will begin to identify with this. Such positive affiliations allow for therapeutic progress more quickly. This was evident in the case of Ryan and his mother as change was witnessed in only six