Play in couple counseling has been proposed as an intervention, but research has not determined the effectiveness of couple play in increasing satisfaction and stability in couples. This study examined the influence of couple play on relationship factors that predict couple satisfaction and stability. The 30 couples in the study completed measures of couple play, relationship satisfaction, communication, conflict resolution, the couple’s view of the relationship, physical health, and individual emotional health. The frequency of couple play was predictive of the relationship measures, but not of individual physical or emotional health. The implications of the findings for using couple play in assessment and intervention in couples counseling are discussed.

Increasing populations of students are unprepared for learning due to emotional or behavioral problems. Yet, school-based mental health services are fragmented, marginalized, and underutilized. Despite the federal mandate to improve all student achievement and an increased ability to identify students needing mental health services, school-based mental health services are noticeably absent from school reform initiatives. The research clearly shows family involvement in school-based mental health services is effective in improving student academic performance. By understanding barriers to school-based mental health counseling services and strategies for increasing family enrollment and retention, mental health counselors can help increase students' academic readiness and the integration of mental health services into the structure of the nation's schools.

Recent couple counseling research has identified the common factors in long-term relationships. With this increased understanding of common factors, couple counselors can focus on interventions that affect common factors to improve couple relationships. Researchers have found the focus on improving common factors in couple relationships is effective in improving couple stability and satisfaction. Although researchers have not considered couple play as an intervention to affect common factors, couples counselors and theorists have proposed a strong relationship between play and successful, long-term couple relationships. The research on adult play and humor also support the possibility for couple play as an intervention in couples counseling. The possible positive effects of couple play on common factors and implications for interventions are discussed.