The Effectiveness of Theraplay® as a Counseling Practice With Mothers and Their Children in a Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Residential Facility

Abstract

Substance abuse in parents is damaging to their children and the family system as a whole. If family treatment is paired with substance abuse treatment for the parents, children have the possibility of having better attachment with their parents and thus increase general functioning skills and overall family well-being. This study examined the impact of Whole Family Theraplay as an effective play therapy treatment with mothers in recovery from substance abuse and their children with attachment issues in an inpatient substance abuse rehabilitation facility. Scores indicated that women/mothers had reduced symptoms of distress and improved their mental health functioning. Their children demonstrated improved interpersonal relationships, reduced interpersonal distress, and improvement in overall mental health functioning. The implications of this study were that by implementing Whole Family Theraplay, in addition to individual and group counseling in substance abuse treatment, subjects showed demonstrated improvement in attachment relationships and mental health outcomes.