Theraplay: Thirty Years of Nonsense and No Proof

Imagine that a physician suddenly decides that injecting people with the extract of bat lip is a cure for cancer. Despite having done no research to verify the claim, he begins promoting his “discovery” to the general public. Gullible patients begin flocking to his clinic and pay him big bucks for bat lip injections. Here’s the inevitable ending to the story: The American Medical Association finds out, investigates, takes away his license, and issues a statement warning the public against bat lip injections and other unproven cancer “treatments.”

Now imagine that a group of mental health professionals suddenly invents a new form of therapy for children who have been diagnosed with attachment disorder, pervasive developmental disorder, autism, depression, and/or attention deficit disorder, as well as children who are just plain “angry” and aggressive. The treatment involves having children play with their parents under the supervision of a therapist. These play sessions—anywhere from 12 to 19 in all—supposedly result in a “changed view of the self as worthy and lovable and of relationships as positive and rewarding.” Despite the complete absence of objective research verifying the efficacy of said “therapy,” the mental health professionals in question begin promoting it to the general public, and significant numbers of parents pay considerable amounts of money to learn how to play “therapeutically” with their kids. Here’s the ending to the story: No professional body investigates; therefore, said mental health professionals profit from a therapy that may not, in fact, be worth a plug nickel.

The first scenario is fictitious. The second scenario is not. It is based on information published on the website of The Theraplay Institute in Chicago where a click on “Theraplay Research” reveals—what’s this?—there is none! Despite having been around for 30 years, the only evidence of Theraplay’s efficacy is in the form of testimonials from therapists who have used it and parents who have paid for it. That, folks, is not objective research. Furthermore, the only testimonials the Theraplay Institute shares with the class are those that are positive.