Graduate Research Papers

Availability

Open Access Graduate Research Paper

Keywords

Play therapy; Group psychotherapy; Child psychotherapy;

Abstract

Childhood mental health has gained significant attention in recent years. Poor childhood mental health is quickly becoming a major problem in the United States. The impacts of this problem are wide-reaching, affecting families, communities, and schools. Play therapy is one well-known intervention that is often used to alleviate symptoms of mental disorders in children. This study focuses primarily on one play therapy modality: Theraplay®, which is an attachment-based intervention that can be delivered in group and dyadic settings. The purpose of this study is to examine the literature that exists regarding the effectiveness of Theraplay®, specifically Group Theraplay®. Specific questions to be addressed are determining the effectiveness of group play therapy interventions on various age groups, determining the effectiveness of Group Theraplay® versus dyadic Theraplay®, and determining the impacts of Group Theraplay® on social interaction skills. Findings indicate that Group Theraplay® has significant support for increasing positive social interactions and decreasing symptoms of mental disorders in children, especially in elementary-aged children. Implications for effective treatment are discussed, including school-based treatment options using Group Theraplay® as an intervention.

Year of Submission

2025

Department

Department of Social Work

First Advisor

Matthew Vazquez

Date Original

2025

Object Description

1 PDF file (22 pages)

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

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