Child Centered Play Therapy

Question 1

What are some ethical issues in play therapy?

Answer 1

Confidentiality, boundaries, overidentification, rescue fantasies, having too much fun (really doing work?)

Question 2

Underlying theory of Child Centered?

Answer 2

Given the right opportunity and environment, child will self-actualize.

• By providing a warm, safe environment, child will grow and change
• Goal is to release child’s inner motivation to move forward, be creative, heal, etc.

Question 3

Basic tenets of Child Centered

Answer 3

• How a child feels about themselves manifests in the behavior
• The child’s perception is reality
• Child’s behavior must always be understood by looking through their eyes
• Maladjustment occur when self-concept and experiences do not coincide

Question 4

Rules of Child Centered

Answer 4

• Children are not mini adults
• Children are people, unique, worthy of respect
• resilient; tendency toward growth / actualization
• natural language is play
• Have a right to be silent
• growth cannot be accelerated

Question 5

Important therapeutic elements of Child Centered

Answer 5

Genuineness, warmth, acceptance, sensitive and understanding, child (not the problem) is the focus.

THE RELATIONSHIP, NOT PLAY MATERIAL, IS THE KEY TO GROWTH

Question 6

What do children learn in Child Centered

Answer 6

accept responsibility, self control, self respect, all emotions are acceptable, creative problem solving

Question 7

No-No’s in Child Centered

Answer 7

Do not give praise for result “that’s so pretty!” Praise the effort “you worked so hard!”

Question 8

8 Principles of Child Centered

Answer 8

1) warm rlx with child, solid rapport
2) accept the child as is
3) Establish a feeling of permissiveness so child feels free to express self
4) Recognize and reflect child’s feelings to foster insight
5) Respect child’s ability to solve problems
6) Child leads, therapist follows
7) Do not hurry therapy
8) Establish only rules that are necessary