Research Outcomes Related to Parent Involvement

The purpose of this chapter is to discuss relevant literature and research demonstrating the impact of involving parents in play therapy. This chapter further outlines the different ways that parents can be involved in play therapy, including various models of parent consultation and parent-based treatment. This chapter examines meta-analyses that demonstrate improved outcomes for children when involving parents and the comparison of parent-based approaches and parent consultation. Moreover, it summarizes and discusses multiple studies that examine the impacts of involving parents in play therapy, such as reduced attrition, a stronger therapeutic alliance between counselor and parent, and greater efficacy and parenting satisfaction.