Annotated Bibliography: Play Therapy for Children

If play is a child's language, then toys can be taken as the words. With play therapy the child can resolve their difficulties and concerns utilizing the toys that they pick, exposing their inner thoughts and discussions. With play the child has the ability to check out numerous circumstances and habits in a supportive environment. Genuine favorable regard and approval urges the child to feel safe adequate to be able to discover

According to a leading expert in Play Therapy, Landreth (2014) believes firmly that the focus of therapy needs to be on the child not on the client, and children are the best teachers for the

The topic of this book is how play therapy can help a child who has been in isolation, and self-discovery. Axline supports this view in various ways throughout the book. She explains her reasoning for not interrupting Dibs and gives many examples of using counseling skills. Axline’s style is formal and the chapters are clearly organized. There is a chapter for each play therapy session. She describes Dibs’ activities captivatingly, making the book engaging to read and showing that she, too, is engaged with Dibs (counsellorjen/wordpress).

“Many traditional family therapists often exclude small children from the therapeutic process” (Wehrman & Field, 2013). Although therapists may feel as though conducting a session with children present can be challenging, it is strongly encouraged to do so. The integrative intervention model of child-based play is an effective method in which therapists should use when treating families. Recent research concludes that the “integration of children and families involved in counseling will benefit the family when all family members are present” (Wehrman & Field, 2013). Results of this method of therapy provide therapeutic change for families in their communication and relationships.

Play therapy involves working on rules and boundaries, such as coming up with tasks that enables the client to establish trust; therefore, building interpersonal skills. Since Spike expresses himself through animation, I used humor in treatment by simply following through with his imaginations. I was sensitive to Spike’s values and beliefs by being cognizant of the stigma associated with Spike’s view of his presenting problem and treatment

When I think about the word “play therapy”, I think of it as a tool or a way to help out another individual or child express their anxieties and conflicts through play in a therapeutic setting. In class, the introductory handout on “Playful Thoughts” was a useful way to capture moments from childhood that would emphasize either happy or unhappy play memories. From one of the questions in the handout, a moment I would never forget would be when I accidentally stapled my hand at the age of four, when I was trying to staple a couple of pages back to a coloring book. A couple of students in class discussed their experience; and their experiences were mixed, as in some described happier moments, while others discussed sadder moments. In class we

Play counselling helped an anxious, perfectionist student takes more risks in her schoolwork, improving her performance, which had suffered from her excessive fear of making mistakes.

I found this chapter to be very informative and another good resource for learning about the different types of play therapy. First, it discussed the directive approach, the toys/materials, and then the skills. It also had a great section for cultural sensitivity, which is very important in all types of therapy. I think both directive and non-directive have pros and cons. Additionally, it is very important to use non-directive first to see were the client is coming from. This is how I start my other forms of therapy as well by using a client-center approach first than gradually moving towards becoming more directive if needed. It is also important based on why the client is being brought in for play therapy. Play therapy is the systematic use of a theoretical model to establish an interpersonal process in which play therapists use the therapeutic powers of play to help clients prevent or resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal growth (Kottman, 2011). This is done by using directive or non-directive play. Both types of play therapy are important and I will discuss this below.

Research on intervention effectiveness for adjustment disorders in children is limited. (Kington, 2011). The client has received six sessions of child centered play therapy (CCPT), a humanistic approach to play therapy for behaviors consistent with an adjustment disorder. The clinician knows of no research examining the effectiveness of play therapy as an intervention for adjustment disorder. However, the tenants of play therapy align well with symptoms associated with the disorder and the clients presenting concerns.

Virginia Axline’s work in Child-Centered Play Therapy stemmed from the Person-Centered theoretical orientation of Carl Rogers. She shared the perspective in which the value of the therapeutic nature is derived from the recognition by the individual as a capable being and the realization of responsibility. A desired goal of therapy is understanding, which

“Dibs in search of self” is a book written by Virginia Axline that offers a case study to describe the practice of child centered play therapy. Play therapy is a type of therapy for children, where they are able to self-heal through expressing and processing their experiences in a non-directive, natural, and uninhibited way. The book is centered on the struggles of a young boy named Dibs, who enters therapy with Dr. Axline, and begins his journey to establish his own identity, confidence, and self-acceptance. Throughout the book, Dr. Axline shows how play can be a therapeutic experience for a child because it offers a safe space and secure relationship between child and adult. It is a space where children are allowed to use play to communicate

Child Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) allows these children safety and unconditional regard. Among the many therapeutic benefits CCPT offers, is a contradiction to the trauma experiences the child has lived. Although HN continues to be exposed to emotional trauma and confusing messages, he has been able to increase his level of personal safety through an integrated form of CCPT sessions. As HN continues to grow and develop, he will need support and compassion to help him navigate the conflicting messages of what behavior is expected and appropriate in the world. Child centered play therapy is an effective modality that could help him heal from the continued trauma exposure by providing a contradiction through the validation of his emotions, exploration of healthy limits, and providing him with unconditional positive

Play is a way for children to learn about their environment and how interaction occurs within. It is through trial and error that children are able to create options; follow their own interests and show “independence in thought and actions” using their knowledge and understanding (Moyles, 2005, p.3). Children develop resilience though play. However for a number of children can experience stressful occurrences during their lives and play can often be restricted. Therefore the play worker’s role in supporting children’s play is a crucial measure towards children's development. For those that work with children require the dexterity to prompt and contribute to children’s play, which can be seen as a principle aspect of therapeutic alliance.

In the selected case study, The mode of therapeutic intervention will take the Gestalt Play Therapy focus. The interaction between Jacob and I will be an open dialogue with straightforward caring, warmth, acceptance, and self-responsibility that specifically focuses on inclusion, with me fully present in the experience of Jacob, where I will not judge, analyze, or interpret what is observed. My presence refers to expressing observations, preferences, feelings, personal experience, and thoughts to Jacob. Commitment to dialogue will present the opportunity to encourage a sense of connection between Jacob and me. Our dialogue will be active and nonverbal or verbal. It can be any modality that expresses and moves

The primary aim of the gestalt play therapist is to help children become aware of their unique process. The focus is on the experience of the process, what children do and how they do it, which they are, what they feel and what they want. Acceptance of this leads to the realization that they can personally make choices and experiment with new behavior. Gestalt play therapy focuses on children’s direct experience in the here and now. The therapist’s goal is to facilitate the client’s awareness of their process. (Corey, 2000)