The Theraplay Institute

What The Theraplay Institute does

The Theraplay Institute (TTI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1971 and headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois. It serves as the international guardian for Theraplay, an evidence-based dyadic child and family therapy modality originally developed by Ann M. Jernberg, PhD, that focuses on building secure attachment between children and caregivers through structured playful, nurturing, engaging, and challenging interactions. TTI's primary customers are mental health professionals (psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, clinical counselors, marriage and family therapists, play therapists) and educators/school professionals, with secondary audiences including child welfare professionals and families/caregivers. Operations span 36+ countries via licensed affiliates and recognized groups, supported by a small core staff of 1-10 employees and a Board of Directors.

Theraplay's core technology is built around its proprietary four-dimension framework (Structure, Nurture, Engagement, Challenge) and the Marschak Interaction Method (MIM), a play-based assessment tool used to evaluate parent-child interactions. TTI's product portfolio includes Level One (four-day foundational) and Level Two training programs, Group Theraplay adaptations for classrooms and residential settings, Sunshine Circles for school-based peer relationship development, and a multi-level certification pathway (Foundational, Intermediate, Full Certification) with cumulative practicum requirements of up to 22 supervised and 96 unsupervised sessions. Additional offerings include Zoom-based online supervision groups, webinars, distance learning content, and contract trainings for organizations. The Theraplay® mark is a registered trademark, though TTI does not own the service mark in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland.

TTI generates revenue primarily through professional services: training program tuition, certification practicum fees ($1,200 for Foundational, $1,100 for Intermediate with institute-supervised practicum; $400 registration fee with independent supervisors), online supervision session fees ($10 per observation, $50 per case presentation after free trials), and product store sales of books and training materials. The go-to-market is sales-led, executed through a global network of certified trainers and supervisors operating in 36+ countries, including licensed affiliates in Finland and recognized groups in South Korea. Marketing is professional network-based, utilizing the theraplay.org website, email newsletter, practitioner directory, community platform, and live training calendar.

Name

The Theraplay Institute

Legal name

The Theraplay Institute

Website

https://theraplay.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Theraplay Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit international guardian of Theraplay, an evidence-based dyadic child and family therapy modality. It trains, certifies, and supports mental health professionals and educators across 36+ countries through certification programs, training workshops, and continuing education services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Mental Health Training and Certification

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (6117), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Parent–Child Play & Interaction Programs (EDACALAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Parent/Caregiver Training & Family Consultation (ABA) (EDAKAHAG), Group Therapy and Peer-Mediated Communication Programs (School-Age) (EDAKAEAO)

Keywords

• Child therapy training
• Attachment therapy certification
• Play therapy training
• Mental health professional certification
• Dyadic family therapy

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Training Programs: Revenue from Theraplay Level One, Level Two, Group Theraplay, and Sunshine Circles training programs offered globally, with continuing education credits available.
2. Certification and Supervision: Fees for certification practicum at Foundational ($1200), Intermediate ($1100), and Full Certification levels, plus online supervision group sessions ($10/observation after free trials, $50/case presentation).
3. Product Store Sales: Sale of Theraplay books, training materials, and resources including the required 'Theraplay: The Practitioner's Guide'.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Theraplay Institute delivers the Theraplay modality, an evidence-based dyadic child and family therapy, through global professional training programs (Level One, Level Two, Group Theraplay, Sunshine Circles), a multi-tier practitioner certification pathway (Foundational, Intermediate, Full), live Zoom-based online supervision groups, webinars and distance learning, and contract trainings for organizations. Its proprietary Marschak Interaction Method (MIM) is used as a play-based assessment tool for parent-child interaction.

Product overview

The Theraplay Institute offers Theraplay as its core evidence-based dyadic child and family therapy modality, complemented by the Marschak Interaction Method (MIM) assessment tool. The training portfolio includes Level One and Level Two certification programs, Group Theraplay, and Sunshine Circles (school-based adaptation). Practitioners can access certification through a structured practicum with three levels: Foundational, Intermediate, and Full Certification. Additional offerings include online supervision groups via Zoom, webinars, and contract trainings for organizations. The institute operates under a training and professional development model rather than a software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Theraplay Modality Evidence-based dyadic child and family therapy modality recognized by the Association of Play Therapy as one of the seminal play therapy approaches. Guides parents and children through playful games and nurturing interactions to build attachment, self-esteem, and trust. Licensed to mental health professionals through certification.
• Marschak Interaction Method (MIM) Proprietary play-based assessment tool used to evaluate parent-child interactions and guide treatment planning; assesses the four dimensions of Theraplay (Structure, Nurture, Engagement, Challenge).
• Theraplay Level One Training Four-day foundational training program teaching Theraplay principles, the Four Dimensions, the Theraplay protocol, and an introduction to MIM; offers 25 continuing education hours and is required for certification.
• Theraplay Level Two Training Advanced three-day workshop covering in-depth MIM skills, working with parents and caregiver attachment history, and adapting Theraplay for trauma and complex families.
• Group Theraplay Training Training program for professionals to use Theraplay in classrooms, day care, residential settings, or family groups; available as One-Day or Two-Day option and required for group certification.
• Sunshine Circles Training Group-format adaptation of Theraplay designed for schools to develop healthy peer relationships through adult-directed, structured play therapy-based groups.
• Theraplay Certification Program Multi-level certification pathway including Foundational Theraplay Practitioner (8 supervised + 32 unsupervised sessions), Intermediate (15 supervised + 64 unsupervised sessions), and Full Certification as Certified Theraplay Practitioner (22 supervised + 96 unsupervised sessions).
• Online Supervision Groups Live Zoom-based supervision groups allowing practitioners to observe and participate in real-time supervision sessions from remote locations, with free trial observations and paid case presentation options.
• Webinars and Distance Learning Online training offerings including live webinars and recorded content to supplement Theraplay experience; continuing education credits not available for on-demand recordings.
• Contract Trainings Customized training programs delivered on-site at organizations, covering Level One, Level Two, Group Theraplay, module training, and Theraplay overviews.

Quantifiable outcome

• Rated as Promising by California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Finnish Theraplay AssociationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLicensed affiliate of The Theraplay Institute in Finland. Clinicians have achieved sufficient expertise to conduct their own training and supervision programs independently, with oversight from TTI.
• Alliance for Theraplay in South KoreacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficially recognized group that organizes training and supervision with oversight from The Theraplay Institute. Only training and supervision sponsored by the Alliance is accepted for Theraplay certification.
• German Theraplay InstituteminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSeparate organization organizing training and supervision in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The Theraplay Institute does not own the service mark for Theraplay in these countries.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Zero to Three: National nonprofit providing training, certification, and professional development in infant and early childhood mental health — directly comparable as a training-and-certification organization serving the same mental-health and early-childhood professional audience as Theraplay.
• Hanen Centre: Trains speech-language pathologists and educators in parent-implemented early-language programs (e.g., It Takes Two to Talk, More Than Words) — directly parallels Theraplay's parent-child training and certification model aimed at clinicians and educators.
• Child-Parent Psychotherapy Training (Trauma Center / Child First / Early Trauma Treatment Network): CPP is an evidence-based parent-child therapy model with a formalized certification/training program — competing for the same mental-health practitioner audience as Theraplay, particularly in trauma and attachment markets.
• Circle of Security International: Provides training and certification in Circle of Security, an attachment-based parent-child intervention — directly comparable to Theraplay's model of branded parent-child dyadic therapy delivered via certified practitioners worldwide.
• PCIT International: Trains and certifies clinicians in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), an evidence-based dyadic parent-child therapy with a multi-tiered certification pathway — highly analogous structure to Theraplay Level 1/Level 2/certification.

Emerging players

• Brazelton Touchpoints Center: Provides NBO and Touchpoints training for clinicians working with infants/parents and families — adjacent attachment/relationship-based training competing for the same early-childhood and mental-health practitioner budget.
• Conscious Discipline: Evidence-informed SEL and relationship-based training program for educators, schools, and families — directly competes with Theraplay's Sunshine Circles and Group Theraplay in the K-12/school market.

Broad incumbents

• EMDR Institute: Provides multi-level training, certification, and consultation in a specific therapy modality with a global affiliate network — comparable operating model (modality training + tiered certification) even though the modality (EMDR) and target trauma focus differ from Theraplay.
• Ackerman Institute for the Family: Established family-therapy training institute offering a portfolio of clinical training, certificate programs, and supervision — broader than Theraplay's modality-focused niche but operates the same family-therapy professional training market.

Others

• Association for Play Therapy (APT): The professional association for play therapists that lists Theraplay as a seminal play therapy approach and is also APT's Approved Continuing Education Provider — adjacent ecosystem enabler/integrator rather than a direct training competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/theraplay

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Theraplay Institute