Play Therapy
(student centered)

Play is a fun and enjoyable
activity that benefits our mood
and view on life.

It expands self-expression,
self-knowledge, self-actualization,
and self-efficacy(Landreth, 2002).

Relieves feelings of stress and boredom,
connects us to others, stimulates thoughts,
and regulates our emotions.

Play allows us to practice skills.

Children become more
responsible for behaviors.

Therapy helps children
develop creative solutions(Moustakas,
1997; Reddy, Files-Hall & Schaefer, 2005)

Development of self
acceptance

Subtopic

Structured approach that builds
on learning processes.

Therapists utilize it to help children
express themselves- toys are words
and play is language(Landreth, 2002).

Developed in the 20th century

Differs from regular play because
therapists are helping children address
problems.

Builds on the natural way that children learn

Kids learn to communicate, express
feelings, control behavior, and problem solve

APT defines it as the systematic
use of theoretical model to establish
a process where therapists use powers
of play(Mental Health Links).

Children are referred
to resolve problems
(Carmichael; 2006; Schaefer, 1993).

Trained mental health
practitioners assess the
child's play.

It is used to help
children cope with
emotions.

Appropriate for ages
3-12(Carmichael, 2006; Gil, 1991;
Landreth; 2002; Schaefer, 1993)

Teens and adults have
also benefited(Pedro-Carroll & Reddy, 2005;
Schaefer, 2003).

Recently it has
been used with
infants and toddlers.

Play therapists make decisions on involvement,
at minimum the parents will be communicated
with frequently(Guerney, 2000).

Some families heal faster
together while some need to
deal with the problem separately

Interaction between the problem
and the family is always complicated,
in turn the whole family becomes upset.

Licensed, mental health
professional who has a
Master's or Doctorate degree
in mental health.

With specialized training,
mental health professionals
may also be a Registered Play
Therapist.

The Association for Play Therapy
is a nation professional society
established in 1982(Mental Health
Links)

Promotes the value of play,
play therapy, and credentialed
play therapists.

Play therapy is a perfect example
of progressivism, which has an
emphasis on real-world problem solving
and development at the individual level. In
play therapy the child is being developed as
fully as possible, much like progressivism.

Carmichael, K. D. (2006). Play therapy: An introduction. Glenview, IL: Prentice Hall.

Guerney, L. (2001). Child centered play therapy. International Journal of Play Therapy. 10(2), 13-31.

Pedro-Carroll, J., Reddy, L. (2005). A preventive play intervention to foster children's resilience in the aftermath of divorce. In L. Reddy, T. Files-Hall, & C. Schaefer (Eds.), Empirically based play interventions for children. (pp.51-75). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Moustakas, C. (1997). Relationship play therapy. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson, Inc.

Landreth, G. L. (2002). Play therapy: The art of the relationship. New York, NY: Brunner-Ruttledge.

Mental Health Links. (n.d.). Retrieved November 12, 2014, from http://www.a4pt.org/?page=PTMakesADifference