Theraplay Treatment Outcome Research

Theraplay has evidence-based status. Theraplay has been accepted by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrationfor inclusion on the National Registry for Evidence-based Programs and practices! Click here for more details

Theraplay is rated as Promising by California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse. Click here for more details

Bennett, L., Shiner, S.K., & Ryan, S. (2006). Using Theraplay in shelter settings. Journal of Psychological Nursing, 44(10), 39-48. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20061001-06

Bojanowski, J. J., & Ammen, S. (2011). Discriminating between pre- versus post-Theraplay treatment Marschak Interaction Methods using the Marschak Interaction Method Rating System. International Journal of Play Therapy, 20(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0022668

Eruyar, & Vostanis, P. (2020). Feasibility of group Theraplay with refugee children in Turkey. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 20(4), 626–637. https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12354

France, L.A., McIntosh, S., & Woods, K. (2023) Using Theraplay® to support children and families: a scoping review, Early Child Development and Care 193(8), DOI: 10.1080/03004430.2023.2227775

Frau, T., Milani, M., Jones, A., & Lender, D., (2022) Verso la costruzione di un legame affettivo. Il trattamento integrato della Theraplay e della psicoterapia diadica evolutiva in caso di affido e adozione, Quaderni di Psicoterapia Cognitiva 9(24), DOI: 10.3280/qpc50-2022oa14081 

Francis, Y.J., Bennion, K., & Humrich, S. (2017). Evaluating the outcomes of a school-based Theraplay project for looked after children. Educational Psychology in Practice, 33(3), 308-322. https://doi.org/10.1080/02667363.2017.1324405

Friend, J. (2012). Mitigating intergenerational trauma within the parent-child attachment. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, 33(2), 114–127. https://doi.org/10.1017/aft.2012.14

Hiles Howard, A.R., Lindaman, S., Copeland, R., & Cross, D.R. (2018). Theraplay impact on parents and children with autism spectrum disorder: Improvements in affect, joint attention, and social cooperation. International Journal of Play Therapy, 27(1), 56-68. https://doi.org/10.1037/pla0000056

Kim, Y.K., & Nahm, S. (2008). Cultural considerations in adapting and implementing play therapy. International Journal of Play Therapy, 17(1), 66–77. https://doi.org/10.1037/1555-6824.17.1.66

Makela, J. (2005). The Importance of touch in the development of children. Finnish Medical Journal, 60,1543–9.

May, D., Mowthorpe, L., & Griffiths, E. (2014). Teetering on the edge of care: The role of intensive attachment-based play therapy. Adoption & Fostering, 38(2), 131-148. https://doi.org/10.1177/0308575914532063

Mohamed, A., & Mkabile, S. (2015). An attachment-focused parent-child intervention for biting behavior in a child with intellectual disability: A clinical case study. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 19(3), 251-265 https://doi.org/10.1177/1744629515572711

Money, R., Wilde, S., & Dawson, D. (2021). Review: The effectiveness of Theraplay for children under 12 – a systematic literature review. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 26(3), 238–251. https://doi.org/10.1111/camh.12416

Purrington, J., Hartley, G., & Lyne, N. (2023). Service users’ experiences of a 6-week remotely delivered theraplay-informed group intervention for carers: A qualitative service evaluation. International Journal of Play Therapy, 32(3), 181–195. https://doi.org/10.1037/pla0000201

Robison, Lindaman, S. L., Clemmons, M. P., Doyle-Buckwalter, K., & Ryan, M. (2009). “I Deserve a Family”: The evolution of an adolescent’s behavior and beliefs about himself and others when treated with Theraplay in residential care. Child & Adolescent Social Work Journal, 26(4), 291–306. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-009-0177-x

Salisbury, S. (2018). Using attachment enhancing activities based on the principles of Theraplay to improve adult-child relationships and reduce a child’s ‘overall stress’ as measured by the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties, 23(4), 424–440. https://doi.org/10.1080/13632752.2018.1497000

Salo, S., Flykt, M.,  Mäkelä, J.,  Lassenius-Panula, L., Korja, R.,  Lindaman, S. & Punamäki, R.  (2020). The impact of Theraplay therapy on parent-child interaction and child psychiatric symptoms: a pilot study. International Journal of Play, 9(3) 331-352. https://doi.org/10.1080/21594937.2020.1806500

Simeone-Russell, R. (2011). A practical approach to implementing Theraplay for children with autism spectrum disorder. International Journal of Play Therapy, 20(4), 224–235. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0024823

Siu, A. F. (2023). Evaluating two play-based approaches for children and carers in residential settings: A mixed-method, randomized control study. International Journal of Play Therapy, 32(2), 63–74. https://doi.org/10.1037/pla0000130 

Siu, A. F. Y. (2021). Does age make a difference when incorporating music as a rhythmic- mediated component in a Theraplay-based program to facilitate attunement of preschool children with social impairment? International Journal of Play Therapy, 30(2), 136–145. https://doi.org/10.1037/pla0000131

Siu, A.F.Y. (2009). Theraplay in the Chinese world: An intervention program for Hong Kong children with internalizing problems. International Journal of Play Therapy, 18(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0013979

Siu. A.F.Y. (2014). Effectiveness of Group Theraplay on enhancing social skills among children with developmental disabilities. International Journal of Play Therapy, 23(4), 187–203. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0038158

Smithee, L.C., Krizova, K., Guest, J. D., & Case Pease, J. (2021). Theraplay as a family treatment for mother anxiety and child anxiety. International Journal of Play Therapy, 30(3), 206–218. https://doi.org/10.1037/pla0000153

Stubenbort, K., Cohen, M. M., & Trybalski, V. (2010). The effectiveness of an attachment-focused treatment model in a therapeutic preschool for abused children. Clinical Social Work Journal, 38, 51-60. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-007-0107-3

Tucker, C.,  Schieffer, K., Lenz S. & Smith, S. (2021) Sunshine Circles: Randomized controlled trial of an attachment-based play group with preschool students who are at-risk. Journal of Child and Adolescent Counseling, 7(3) 161-175. https://doi.org/10.1080/23727810.2021.1940658 

Tucker, C., Schieffer, K., Wills, T.J., Hull, C., & Murphy, Q. (2017). Enhancing social-emotional skills in at-risk preschool students through Theraplay based groups: The Sunshine Circle Model. International Journal of Play Therapy, 26(4), 185-195. https://doi.org/10.1037/pla0000054

Weir, K.N., Lee, S., Canosa, P., Rodrigues, N., McWilliams, M. & Parker, L. (2013) Whole family Theraplay: Integrating family systems theory and Theraplay to treat adoptive families. Adoption Quarterly, 16(3-4), 175-200, https://doi.org/10.1080/10926755.2013.844216 

Weir, K.N., Pereyra, S., Crane, J., Greaves, M., Childs, T. S., & Weir, A. B. (2021). The Effectiveness of Theraplay as a counseling practice with mothers and their children in a substance abuse rehabilitation residential facility. The Family Journal, 29(1), 115–123. https://doi.org/10.1177/1066480720980988

Wettig, H. G.; Coleman, A. R.; Geider, F. J. (2011). Evaluating the effectiveness of Theraplay in treating shy, socially withdrawn children. International Journal of Play Therapy, 20(1), 26-37. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0022666

Yazdanipour, Ashori, M., & Abedi, A. (2022). Impact of group Theraplay on the social–emotional assets and resilience in children with hearing loss. International Journal of Play Therapy, 31(2), 107–118. https://doi.org/10.1037/pla0000175

Cort, L. & Rowley, E. (2015). A case study evaluation of a group Theraplay intervention to support mothers and their preschool children following domestic abuse (Research in Brief). British Psychological Society, Debate 156.

Fuller, W. (1995). Theraplay as a treatment for autism in a school-based day treatment setting. Continuum: The Journal of the American Association for Partial Hospitalization 2(2), 89-93.

Makela, J. & Vierikko, I. (2005) From heart to heart: Interactive therapy for children in care. Report on the Theraplay project in SOS Children’s Villages in Finland 2001-2004. The SOS Children’s Villages Association, Finland.

Makela, J. & Salo, S. (2011) Theraplay –vanhemman ja lapsen välinen vuorovaikutushoito lasten mielenterveysongelmissa. (Theraplay- Parent-child interaction treatment for children with mental health problems) Duodecim, 127(4), 327-334.

Salo, S., Lampi, L. & Lindaman, S. (2010) Use of the emotional availability scales to evaluate attachment-based intervention Theraplay- in substance abusing mother-infant dyads in Finland. Infant Mental Health Journal Supplement, 2010, 32:77.

Tucker, C., & Smith, S. (2018). Using play to enhance growth in children who have experienced trauma: Theraplay groups as early intervention. Young Exceptional Children Monograph Series, 17, 72-81.