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Strengthening family bonds can be challenging in Singapore. Parents often juggle time-demanding careers, while children balance classwork and the pressures of adapting to new environments. It’s easy to overlook the rituals that keep us close, and it’s tempting to blame mobile devices or social media for the disconnect. However, long before emojis, “likes”, or even colour television, therapists identified how modern life made it difficult for parents and children to remain fully connected.
In the 1960’s, therapists began to understand how hectic lifestyles hindered parents from building a deep bond with their children. Theraplay – a play-based therapy – emerged to address this need, aiming to strengthen parent-child relationships. As the pace of life has accelerated, and play has adpated from previous decades (what happened to simple swings and slides?!), Theraplay has become increasingly relevant.
Time can pass quickly without parents taking a moment to celebrate their child’s growth. Finding opportunities to accomplish something new together or simply enjoying each other’s company can be a challenge. Theraplay uses structured play to create interactions that supports families navigating life changes, frequent business travel, or reunions after extended separations.
What is Theraplay?
At The Counselling Place, Theraplay sessions are filled with laughter as parents, children, and teenagers engage in activities such as creating silly rhymes about each other or inventing a new secret family handshake.
However, behind each age-appropriate activity, our therapists have carefully structured these seemingly simple moments to encourage the parent to take the lead, fostering eye contact, physical touch, and a deeper union. Theraplay works through four key areas:
- Structure: Creating predictable, safe moments
- Engagement: Sharing joy and delight
- Nurture: Giving and receiving care
- Challenge: Building confidence together
Carefully designed activities explore these areas in a way that engages children and teenagers – from juggling balloons to playing air hockey with straws and cotton balls. Each session strengthens the ties between parents and children through a combination of structure, surprise, delight, nurturing, care, and shared achievement.
How families can benefit
Theraplay offers a unique approach to enhancing your family’s emotional wellbeing and relationships. Empathy, communication, and trust between everyone can improve significantly.
It also supports family members in managing emotions, reducing conflict, and fostering lasting connection, and is especially beneficial for those facing attachment issues, behavioural challenges, emotional struggles, developmental disabilities, trauma, or stress. Theraplay encourages:
- Increased understanding and empathy
- Improved emotional regulation
- Stronger bonding and connection
- Reduced stress and conflict
Take the first step towards a closer family dynamic by booking a personalised Theraplay session at The Counselling Place today.
At The Counselling Place, we specialise in helping families and individuals in Singapore navigate life changes. Our newest team member, Nicholas, joins our diverse team of counsellors, who together offer support across various approaches, disciplines, and cultures. Whether you connect with Nicholas or another of our counsellors, you’ll find personalised and practical strategies tailored to expat life. Take that step towards thriving in your Singapore journey – your family will thank you for it.
