The effectiveness of play therapy with the Theraplay method on child's anxiety with parents

Abstract Background and purpose: Disorder in attachment relationships can lead to psychological disorders by creating general anxiety and distrust in child. The present research aimed to effectiveness of play therapy with the Theraplay method on anxiety of children with parents. Method: Research method in this study was experimental of a single-subject with AB designs. The study population consisted of all children aged 5 to 8 years that attended psychological centers in Tehran in 2021. Among them, 3 children (two boys and one girl) were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and by purposive sampling. Trapley intervention was performed for each child in 21 sessions. The research instrument was Marschak Interaction Method (2018) Spence Children Anxiety Scale (1997) and the Theraplay Behavioral Checklist (Made by a researcher). Data were analysed using visual analysis at both within-condition and between-condition levels. Results: The findings showed that the play therapy with the Theraplay method intervention significantly reduces the anxiety of child with parents (P<0.05). Discussion and Conclusion: According to the findings of the research has been confirmed the effectiveness of play therapy with the Theraplay method intervention on reducing the anxiety of child with parents. Therefore, this method can be considered as one of the useful and applicational treatments for these children.