Play therapy is a structured therapeutic approach designed to help children cope with and express their emotions through play. Unlike regular play, this therapy involves trained mental health practitioners who assess and facilitate the child'
Mental Health Links. (n.d.). Retrieved November 12, 2014, from http://www.a4pt.org/?page=PTMakesADifference
Landreth, G. L. (2002). Play therapy: The art of the relationship. New York, NY: Brunner-Ruttledge.
Moustakas, C. (1997). Relationship play therapy. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson, Inc.
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.
Guerney, L. (2001). Child centered play therapy. International Journal of Play Therapy. 10(2), 13-31.
Carmichael, K. D. (2006). Play therapy: An introduction. Glenview, IL: Prentice Hall.
The Philosophy
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.
Promotes the value of play,
play therapy, and credentialed
play therapists.
The Association for Play Therapy
is a nation professional society
established in 1982(Mental Health
Links)
Who Practices?
With specialized training,
mental health professionals
may also be a Registered Play
Therapist.
Licensed, mental health
professional who has a
Master's or Doctorate degree
in mental health.
Family's
Involvement
Interaction between the problem
and the family is always complicated,
in turn the whole family becomes upset.
Some families heal faster
together while some need to
deal with the problem separately
Play therapists make decisions on involvement,
at minimum the parents will be communicated
with frequently(Guerney, 2000).
Who benefits?
Recently it has
been used with
infants and toddlers.
Teens and adults have
also benefited(Pedro-Carroll & Reddy, 2005;
Schaefer, 2003).
