Play Therapy

*Definition:

• "The systematic use of a theoretical model to establish an interpersonal process wherein trained
play therapists use the therapeutic powers of play to help clients prevent or resolve
psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal growth and development." (Association of Play
Therapy, 2008)

• Play therapy is a structured, theoretically based approach to therapy that builds on the normal
communicative and learning processes of children (Carmichael, 2006; Landreth, 2002; O'Connor
& Schaefer, 1983).

• In her book, Play Therapy (ballantine, 1969), Virginia Axline, a leading expert in play therapy,
explains: “Play Therapy is based upon the fact that play is the child’s natural medium of self
expression. It is an opportunity for the child to ‘play out’ his/her feelings and problems just as
adults talk out their difficulties.”

* Proponents:

• Sigmund Freud first used PT in 1909

• Carl Rogers introduced person-centered theory

• Virginia Axline-created non-directive play therapy

* Goals of Play Therapy

 Boost self-acceptance, self-confidence, and self-reliance

 Facilitate learning about self and others
 Explore and express feelings
 Encourage ability to make good decisions
 Arrange opportunities to practice control and responsibility
 Explore alternative views of problems and relationships
 Learn and practice problem-solving and relationship skills
 Increase feeling vocabulary and emotional concepts 

* Characteristics of an Effective Therapist

 Appreciation of children, treating them with a respectful, kind manner.

 A sense of humor and willingness to laugh at self.
 Playful and fun-loving attitude.
 Self-confidence and self-reliance.
 Openness and honesty.
 Accepting.
 Create safe environment in which child can express self freely.
 Trust and respect the child and attend to child’s feelings.
 Be interested in the child and be warm, caring, and accepting.
* Categories of Play Media

 Play media are the materials and props used in a session:

 Real-life toys: dolls, furniture, telephone, money, animals, nurse kit, household items, etc.
 Acting-out toys and aggressive-release toys: handcuffs, balls, guns, toy soldiers, inflatable
punching toy, etc.
 Creative-expression and emotional release toys: colored chalk, sand and sandbox, crayons, clay,
pipe cleaners, hats, costumes, paint, puppets, etc.

* Basic Skills of Play Therapy

 Tracking: describe what the child is doing

 Restating content: paraphrasing what the child has said
 Reflecting feelings: deepen the relationship and help child understand emotions, being with
others and build an affective vocabulary
 Returning responsibility to the child: builds self-confidence and self-responsibility
 Using the child’s metaphor: maintain the child’s story without interpretation of meaning
 Setting limits: keeps the child safe, increases sense of self-control and enhances responsibility

* Examples of Play Therapy

Directive Play Therapy

 Therapist is directive and leads the child

 Activities are chosen intentionally for the child
 Board games, arts & crafts, puppets, other toys, etc.

Non-Directive Play Therapy

 Therapist follows the child’s lead

 The child intentionally chooses activities
 Board games, arts & crafts, puppets, sand tray, miniatures, other toys, etc.

Axline’s 8 Basic Principles of Non-Directive Play Therapy

The therapist:

 Must develop a warm and friendly relationship with the child.

 Accepts the child as she or he is.
 Establishes a feeling of permission in the relationship so that the child feels free to express
his or her feelings completely.
 Is alert to recognize the feelings the child is expressing and reflects these feelings back in
such a manner that the child gains insight into his/her behavior.
 Maintains a deep respect for the child’s ability to solve his/her problems and gives the child
the opportunity to do so.
 The responsibility to make choices and to institute change is the child’s. The therapist does
not attempt to direct the child’s actions or conversations in any manner. The child leads the
way, the therapist follows.
  Does not hurry the therapy along. It is a gradual process and must be recognized as such by
the therapist.
 Only establishes those limitations necessary to anchor the therapy to the world of reality
and to make the child aware of his/her responsibility in the relationship

Play Therapy Materials

Scary toys

 Clients can use these to explore fears

 Plastic monsters, snakes, bugs, bears, lions, dinosaurs

Nurturing Toys

 Clients can use these to play out family relationships and events
 Doll house, dolls, puppets, baby dolls, baby doll supplies, kitchen set

Aggressive Toys

 Clients use these to express anger and aggression and explore power and control
 Guns, play knives, hammer and nails, toy soldiers, handcuffs, punching bag

Expressive Toys

 Clients use these to explore relationships, express feelings, explore problem/ solution,
communicate
 Crayons, paper, scissors, paint, craft items, telephones, mirror, soft ball

Pretend/Fantasy Toys

 Clients can use these to explore different roles, hidden feelings, and alternative behaviors
 Masks, hats, doctor’s kit, zoo and farm animals, building materials, dress-up clothing, jewelry

Mastery Toys

 Clients can use these to explore sense of confidence, competence, self-esteem

 Blocks, chalk board, school supplies, puzzles, books

Why Play?

 Play comes naturally to most children

 Helps develop a relationship with child
 Takes the inner world and makes it concrete
 Allows for control/manipulate objects
 Assists with child’s overall development

Applications of Play Therapy

Group Play Therapy

  Ginott identified group play therapy to be equally important to individual play therapy because
several children playing in a group created a more relaxed (anxiety reduced) environment for
children to express themselves
 In group process, rules are limited and children can experience catharsis through play or
verbalization.

Filial Therapy

 Louise Guerney (1964) noted the importance of training parents to conduct weekly play therapy
session in the home
 Theraplay has been introduced into problem families. Play related techniques are focused
around rituals of bonding and traditional parent/child interactions. In theory, dysfunctional
families may generally be limited in certain healthy parent/child interactions and consequently
contributing to certain childhood dysfunctions.

Hospitalized Play Therapy

 Through play, children can be desensitized to certain anxieties associated with medical
procedures or hospitalized experiences.