British Journal of Play Therapy Vol. 7 (2011)

ABSTRACTS

pp 4-21

CHILDREN’S PARTICIPATION IN THE THERAPY PROCESS: A CHILD’S PERSPECTIVE

Jessica Jäger

CAMHS East Sussex, England

Non-directive play therapy uses the child’s language of play to facilitate their expression and enable the child’s voice to come to the fore. Recently there has been renewed interest in children’s views of the therapy process itself, both in play therapy and wider afield. However, there has been little detailed exploration of children’s participation in the play therapy process and their views on their involvement in the decision making processes. This study aimed to capture children’s views of their involvement in the non-directive play therapy process using meaningful evaluation methods. Seven non-directive play therapists trained by the author in play-based evaluation techniques undertook qualitative evaluation interviews with twenty children (aged 5-13 years). A thematic analysis of these video-taped sessions revealed that children often appreciated the preparation provided by play therapists at their initial meetings. They commented on the non-verbal means of communication which the therapist brought to the meetings to familiarise the child with the therapy process. However, several children shared a lack of knowledge about progress/review meetings held about the therapy process. Some children had strong views about being included. The implications for play therapy practice are explored and a case example from the author’s own clinical practice is presented.

Key words:Play Therapy, children’s views, play-based evaluation, involvement, reviews, participation, children’s rights

pp22-41

BRIEF PLAY THERAPY TRAINING ACROSS KENYA FOR PROFESSIONAL COUNSELLORS

Kathryn Hunt

The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

This paper evaluates the perceived benefit of brief Child-centred play therapy training to 32 caring professionals across Kenya in Nairobi, Kisumu and Mombasa. It follows and replicates a previous study evaluating the perceived benefit to a group of caring professionals with counselling qualifications of a brief training in Child-centred play therapy in Nairobi (Hunt, 2006).The counsellor participants, 29 female and 3 male representing 9 tribes and 5 non-tribal groups, were predominantly Christian with a few Muslims. The mean average age was 36 years with a mean average of 9 years of experience in the caring professions. Teaching methods included theory presentations; case presentations, practical skills demonstration and tuition with feedback and self- awareness group work. Questionnaires provided quantitative and qualitative data. Key findings were prevalent pre-training feelings of inadequacy to meet the therapeutic needs of vulnerable children using adult style counselling methods and post perceived benefits of training including a perceived increase in therapeutic skills, therapeutic power of play and a positive influence on professional lives, regardless of tribal, religious or geographical differences in the cohorts. There was an unexpected finding of reported prevalent child abuse in all three regions.

Key words:Brief Child-centred Play Therapy Programme, Kenya,

pp42-57

DOMESTIC ABUSE: COLLATERAL DAMAGE- COLLATERAL TREATMENT

Linda St Louis

London, England

At the centre of play therapy is the evolving relationship between the child and the therapist. It is this relationship which enables the child to grow, address traumatic events, learn new skills and re-evaluate self-concept. Children who experience domestic abuse are exposed to significant traumatic events which impact on their mental and physical day to day functioning. Parents, predominantly mothers,experience the same traumatic events which give rise to disrupted and disorganised patterns of attachment. The involvement of parents in play therapy is often in a peripheral role. This case study explores the impact on the mother-child relationship after completion of play therapy with a parent which incorporated non-directive and directive approaches and the delivery of a separate non-directive play therapy intervention with her son.

Key words: Play therapy, culture, domestic abuse, trauma, attachment, parental involvement

pp 58-72

THE USE OF AGGRESSIVE-RELEASE TOYS IN NON-DIRECTIVE PLAY THERAPY: IS THERE ANY IMPACT ON CHILDREN’S AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOUR?

Anastasia Petrakopoulou

Athens, Greece

In recent years there has been a strong controversy among play therapists regarding the necessity or not of aggressive toys in play therapy. Using a survey-based research method questionnaire it was possible to investigate play therapists’ perceptions on the use, role and effect of aggressive-release toys, and whether such toys have any negative impact on children’s aggressive behavior when provided in a play therapy setting. As a result, it was demonstrated that play therapists believe aggressive toys could have a positive impact on the cathartic release of aggressive emotions, in support of the catharsis hypothesis,while other factors may contribute to the cathartic effect as well.

Keywords:Aggressive-release toys, play therapy, aggressive behaviour, catharsis.

pp 74-85

PIVOTAL MOMENTS OF CHANGE IN EXPRESSIVE THERAPY WITH CHILDREN

Steve Harvey

Taranaki District Health Board, New Zealand

This paper focuses on pivotal moments of change in expressive therapy with young children. While there has been interest in studying the changes that result from play therapy, many of these studies have been conducted using group quantitative data. There is a gap in understanding change during specific moments. Literature concerning moments of change both in and out of therapy and with children was reviewed. A small number of experienced expressive therapists from diverse contexts were asked to provide retrospective descriptions of case examples from their work in which a child they were seeing changed dramatically for the better. A general sequence of how these moments developed was identified and used to examine the common elements among them. The common elements of these examples included a therapist creative response to a child’s novel action, a sharing of positive feelings among the players, and the mutual development of an expressive metaphor that represented a new interpersonal state. These observations are used to suggest further research.

Keywords: Play therapy, dance therapy, expressive therapy, moments of change, family therapy and young children