Article for inclusion in Adoption Matters
(Social Services Newsletter)
THERAPLAY & WHAT IT CAN OFFER ADOPTIVE PARENTS
After Adoption and Adoption UK recently sponsored a 4-day training programme on Theraplay
and the Marshak Interaction Method which I attended in Manchester. I wanted to give
Adoption Matters readers a taste of what these methods involve and offer the opportunity to
find out more by giving a talk at one of the WASGAP monthly meetings (date to be confirmed).
Like the other participants, all of whom were professionals working with adoptive and foster
families, I came back inspired to see how we could apply what we had learnt to support
adoptive families pre and post adoption.
Theraplay is a short-term play therapy for children and caregivers. It has the goals of
enhancing adult-child relationships and resolving behavioural problems, such as: excessive
tantrums, anger, hitting, biting, clinginess, fearfulness, controlling behaviours,
self-harming behaviours and attachment disturbances. It complements much of what we currently
know about attachment, recognizing that many of these behaviours have their roots in the
child's early experiences and are learned survival mechanisms. The Marschak Interaction
Method (MIM) is an observationally-based assessment method used to evaluate parent-child
relationships.
The workshop conveyed Theraplay's focus on:
- the need for being physically playful with children
- how to work with carer and child together to make changes, rather than separately,
as with many other therapies
- how encouraging carers to physically play with their children will enhance the
parent-child bond
The MIM is conducted at the beginning and at the end of the therapy. Parent/s and child
engage in a prescribed series of play activities which are videoed. The therapist sees the
types of behaviours the child is presenting and can observe the parent and his/her present
strategies in managing the behaviour. This gives an opportunity for positive feedback and a
focus for the programme of work together. At the end of the programme the parent/s and child
engage in the same activities and the therapist will give feedback again.
The focus of the playful activities are on Structure, Nurture, Engagement and Challenge.
Initially the therapist engages the child and the parent observes and then the parent
increasingly takes on the role of leading the child in the activities, in the Theraplay
sessions, until s/he is confident in them and in this way of engaging the child.
In conclusion, I must say that the more I learned, the more I could see how this method could
provide a sound base for supporting adoptive families, particularly in the earlier stages of
placement, where, to use Dan Hughes' phrase, it can help "build the bonds of attachment".
In addition, Theraplay also has a role in helping to re-engage children with parents who are
exhausted and feeling that all their attempts to build a relationship have ended in defeat,
but who are still "hanging in there". In this case, it may be appropriate for it to be a
complement to other therapies, which more directly engage with the child's early trauma.
Finally, an understanding of the methodology could be a useful tool for professionals engaged
with a range of troubled children and young people: social workers and foster carers,
teachers and nursery staff, Educational Psychologists, youth workers and YOT staff.
Sue
WASGAP COMMITTEE
4 October 03
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