THERAPLAY: Level One & MIM

Theraplay Level 1 & MIM

Theraplay® is an evidenced-based, attachment-focused intervention utilising non-symbolic, interactional play to re-create experiences of secure attachment formation between parent and child. Therapist-guided short-term, dyadic therapy focuses on improving the child’s behavioural and emotional challenges through the parent-child relationship. In a session, the therapist guides the parent and child through playful games, challenging activities, and nurturing interactions. Theraplay® helps the child experience previously difficult interactions in new ways, helps overcome fear/ shame, increase trust, and create a positive change in the child’s sense of self. Theraplay® helps the parent be attuned to the child, understand the motives of the child’s behaviour and the underlying needs, manage environmental stimuli, and carefully challenge their child in a safe place. While other therapies may work primarily with the child alone or work with parents on managing the child’s behaviours, Theraplay® has shown that the parent-child relationship is the most powerful and influential element for change. It is also a complementary approach to Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (developed by Dan Hughes).

Theraplay® has been used successfully to help:

• Children with developmental trauma
• Shy, withdrawn children
• Overactive, controlling or aggressive children
• Foster/adoptive children with attachment difficulties
• Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder & Pervasive Development Disorder
• Children with physical disabilities, developmental delays or those who are non-verbal
• Children who live in group settings
• Early childhood students and others who receive services in group settings

You will learn:

• History, core concepts & evidence base of Theraplay®
• The four dimensions of Theraplay®: Structure, Engagement, Nurture & Challenge. Undertake activities for each of the dimensions
• Administer the Marshack Interaction Method (MIM) & analyse it at a beginning level
• Conduct feedback sessions with parents based upon the MIM analysis
• Use the MIM as a guideline for Theraplay® treatment planning
• Observe demonstrations of Theraplay® treatment and techniques
• Practice Theraplay® activities in dyads
• Identify the types of behaviours that require a particular dimension
• Utilise the four Theraplay® dimensions to treat the specific needs of a child
• How Theraplay® is applied to meet the needs of children with behaviour problems, foster and adopted children, children with ASD, & older children
• How to guide parents to participate in a Theraplay® treatment session

This four-day workshop is for practitioners wanting to use Theraplay® Informed Practice in their work and is suitable for practitioners working with children and families ranging from Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Social Workers, Clinical Counsellors, Family Therapists, Counsellors, Play Therapists, Special Education & Early Childhood Specialists, Teachers, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Residential Care Workers and Foster Support Workers.