Play Therapy

The field of child counseling has been enriched through the integration of play therapy within different therapeutic approaches, as this method allows children to express thoughts and feelings that they might not be able to convey any other way due to their limited vocabulary (Henderson & Thompson, 2016). Over the past eight years, MacGill (2017) has built both her private practice, as well as functioned as a school counselor for students with special needs, MacGill demonstrates each day the many ways that play therapy can be integrated with several different therapeutic approaches as a method of building rapport and gaining a better understanding of each child’s mental health needs. MacGill is a Licensed Clinical

play therapy experiences for children to help reduce anxiety and fear. Additionally, they can help

In addition, children’s play holds significant therapeutic value in providing a safe, protective environment in a space where children can recreate themselves and self-cure” (Campbell et al., 2010). The strongest therapeutic tool used in this process is the child’s innate drive to self-actualize.

Haslam, D., Harris, S. (2011). Integrating Play and Family Therapy Methods: A Survey of Play

In their sessions together, Dr Axline integrates the principles of non-directive play therapy. Her psychological approach to children was based on most of the humanistic concepts of

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

Play contributes to children’s “physical, emotional and social well-being” (Else, 2009, p.8) and through play, the child’s holistic development and well-being is being constantly accounted for as is it led by the individual. The child decides what s/he wants to do and does it; it is

This essay will explore the nature of the therapeutic process; using my fifty minute long real play session with one of my colleagues. Also, I will explore my experience of the therapeutic relationship and how it influences therapeutic change and increase the affectivity of the therapy.

Thank you for your feedback and questions. First, I think that it is great to practice what we are learning. Play therapy has many different uses and would be applicable with elementary students' developmental level. Secondly, I'm not with you and cannot observe you or even know how to fully use it myself yet, as we are all learning. I think we just need to keep practicing and using what works for our own style and be willing to try new things that work for the students as well. However, play therapy focuses on reducing symptoms and removing barriers to support students' development (Henderson & Thompson, 2011). Some goals that play therapy addresses include building self-confidence, learning about self and others, expressing and identifying feelings, encourage good decision making, practice responsibility or control, exploration of different views, and learning skills such as problem-solving or relationship skills (Henderson & Thompson, 2011).

Too frequently play therapy becomes overlooked and rejected due to the joyous word play. Despite the beliefs, play therapy can inhibit communication barriers, and provide a safe environment for the child to explore critical elements in their life. The book Dibs in Search of Self by Virginia M. Axline provides an excellent example of how effective play therapy can be. Time and time again I found myself becoming moved and flabbergasted by the way play therapy worked for Dibs. Furthermore, the way play therapy assembled a healthy and positive relationship with his family in general.

Play therapy is defined as when a counsellor sees and makes use of toys as an essential and prominent way for children to communicate with other children (Vernon, p.123). Also, as Vernon quoted Thompson and Henderson (2006), play is essentially a mode of communication that young children use to exchange communication and solve issues (Vernon, p. 123).

Child-centered play therapy (CCPT) is a creative therapeutic intervention that is based in the humanistic orientation for children (Davis & Pereira, 2014). CCPT creates a safe interpersonal relationship between a child and a therapist who provides a creative, accepting, and safe environment and selected play materials for children to be able to fully express and explore self through play (Davis & Pereira, 2014; Jayne & Ray, 2014). CCPT believes that children have the ability to find the solutions for their issues (Pereira, 2017 Lecture). The therapist will follow Client P’s lead in a therapeutic process. From the past four sessions using CCPT, the common themes are making food/preparing food, creating rainbow pictures by using play dough, drawing pictures of her and her friend, sister and teacher, and writing letters to them. From these sessions, Client P showed that she has a good knowledge of how she wants each step to be during the play. Other goals for the next sessions is to help Client P to express herself, help both the client and the therapist to learn how she sees the real world, and by learning and expressing herself, client will develop a way to better interact with the

This research is geared towards specialists, who are involved in coming up with the parameters of play therapy and range from child psychologists, school counselors, social workers, and parents in a home-setting looking for therapy to suit their children. The research is also written in a concise and clear manner with simple terms which members of the public interested in the field can understand. It has

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)