Interplay Therapy

Interplay is a therapeutic attachment-based play therapy model, that is underpinned by humanistic principle, attachment theory and interpersonal neurobiology.

“Bringing unconscious, conscious, developing self-understanding and reconnection to self and each other whilst synchronizing and attuning. The recipe for the development of secure attachment” - Donna Berry

What is Interplay Therapy?

Interplay is a universal language, focused on healing through relationship. Attachment is our primary need and attachment disruption creates so much pain. The therapist holds space to create safety, develop understanding and support integration/healing through therapeutic connection.

Interplay focuses primarily on the relationship. Interplay therapists work with parents/caregivers and their children, put words to the dyadic unconscious unspoken experience, looking behind behaviour, reflecting on their needs, deepening self understanding and that of each other.

Who is Interplay® Therapy suitable for?

Interplay is beneficial for children, adolescents & their parents, family members, kinship carers, or foster carers as it is designed to help facilitate attachment, connection, safety, and secure relationships.

There are many different attachment relationships which would benefit from an Interplay approach. It is beneficial when there has been a disruption to the attachment between a parent/carer and child, where there is shared trauma between the parent and child, or circumstances where the family would benefit from strengthening relationships.

Donna Berry is the founder of Interplay International and is a qualified social worker, play therapist, family therapist and play therapy supervisor who has worked with children and families for over 27 years.

What are the benefits of Interplay Therapy?

Interplay helps the child and parent/carer dyad to process and reorganise experiences. It provides insight into what lies behind behaviours and emotional responses, the therapist is able to support coregulation, insight into self and insight into one another and the relationship. Interplay Therapy helps development secure attachment and attunement as it focuses on healing through the relationship.

Interplay supports the dyadic relationship to overcome adversity, create safe and secure connections, cohesion and to heal from past trauma or disruption.

The outcome of Interplay is that both the child and parent heal past experiences within a secure attachment relationship, reorganising their nervous system and rewriting their early attachment relationship.

It is healing for life!

What is involved in Interplay Therapy?

In the Interplay approach the child and parent/caregiver both enter the playroom, instead of just the child and the therapist. This enables the therapy to focus on both the child and the parent/caregiver, and the relationship and connection they share. As play is a child's language the play space is often used because toys and play materials are developmentally appropriate for children. However Interplay is not limited to this environment, as it is relationship based, it can be done where there is a dyad.

There is no right or wrong way to play in this space and both child and parent is authentically and non-judgmentally supported by the therapist.

Interplay Therapy

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