Family Play Therapy 

Theraplay: a research-based, short-term, attachment-based intervention in which elements of play therapy are used to strengthen parent–child attachment and to promote secure attachments, self-regulation, and communication skills in children

  • a “child and family therapy for building and enhancing attachment, self-esteem, trust in others, and joyful engagement” (Theraplay Institute)

  • focused on four main components: structure, engagement, nurture, and challenge

  • a special type of play therapy that can improve your child’s behaviour in unique ways.

Using the therapeutic benefits of joyful play and sensitive caregiving, Theraplay focuses on strengthening your relationship with your child while enhancing your sense of connection and mutual understanding so that your child no longer needs to resort to problem behaviours. As the most important people in a child’s life, caregivers are actively involved in sessions. You and your child will experience delight and enjoyment in each other, and your child will become more responsive to you.

Who Benefits from Theraplay?

  • Acting out, angry or disruptive behaviour

  • Defiant or controlling behaviour

  • Shy. withdrawn or clingy behaviour

  • Attachment concerns

  • Parents/caregivers who are feeling disconnected from their child

  • Foster families
  • A history of trauma or neglect
  • Autism Spectrum, Disorders

Theraplay is an especially effective treatment for young children - even for those under three years of age, because it is play-based rather than language-based. The active playfulness of Theraplay often engages children who have not responded to more traditional therapy approaches or who are oppositional. Theraplay’s appealing activities help these children “buy into” the therapeutic process and bring about change without the need for the child to talk about or express problems.

Parent-Child EMDR

Traumas that have not healed in this generation have the potential of being passed into the next. The sense of self in any child does not develop in isolation; in fact, it develops in the parent-child relationship and other important relationships early in life. We came to this world to connect with others and when these connections do not happen or they happen in a way that hurt us or injure us, our sense of self is affected.. In many cases having the child as well as the parent receive EMDR therapy (together or separately) may be recommended for best results. Sometimes the parent may be highly traumatized by living through the traumas of their children and the healing needs to take place in both the child and the parent.

Sometimes because of the parents’ early experiences with their own parents, they may have difficulties setting boundaries with their kids, or they may be overprotective, neglectful, abusive, too distant, or too intrusive. Parents' emotional problems can affect their children’s emotional, physical and psychological development. For instance, a parent with depression, without knowing or intending to, may neglect their child’s needs for connection and love.

Filial Family Therapy: It is founded on the belief that parents can learn necessary skills to help their children overcome difficulties and improve their relationships. It incorporates the power of play therapy within the family context to empower children, parents, and the family as a whole.

To learn more about the types of issues and challenges I work with click here, to learn more about the techniques I may use with you and your child, click here, and to learn more about my background, click here, to learn more about my rates, click here