Recreational Therapy Commons^™

Play Therapy With Adults, Lisa E. Heiden

Graduate Research Papers

Play therapy is a type of therapy that utilizes play as the method for communication instead of the traditional talk therapy. It is most often used with children, but it can also be used with adults regardless of age, ethnicity, or background. Play allows people to experiment with different roles, learn and try new skills, and create or recreate events from life.

Play therapy has been adapted to fit different theoretical orientations and multicultural considerations, and it can be demonstrated through a variety of mediums and formats. There is a lack of adequate information and research concerning play therapy. The.purpose …

Play Therapy With Victims Of Child Abuse, Annie E. Jessen

Graduate Research Papers

Child abuse is a very serious issue around the world. An estimated 906,000 children were determined to be victims of child abuse or neglect in the United States in 2003. Child fatalities are the most tragic consequence of maltreatment. Play therapy provides children with the ideal environment where they feel safe and they may experience their feelings without restriction.

Oftentimes play allows children to distance themselves from experiences that are quite painful if expressed directly to a therapist. When assessing the needs of children, it is important for play therapists to assess the phenomenological impact of the abuse, the family's …

Nature And Its Application With Students Who Have Special Needs, Nicholas J. Hoeger

Graduate Research Papers

This paper examines the utility of Nature-Assisted Therapy and its processes in conjunction with students who have been identified as having special needs. In addition, it weighs both the pros and cons of applying this method with various populations. Finally, it weighs the value of this approach within the educational setting and identifies common strategies that have been adopted.

Play Therapy, Melissa A. Hardman

Graduate Research Papers

Play therapy techniques are valuable tools for a variety of professionals who work with children. One need not be a registered play therapist to implement play techniques when working with child clients. There are many types of clients that would benefit from play therapy. There are several different theoretical approaches, but the researcher chose to focus on Adlerian Play Therapy, Client-Centered Play Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Play Therapy, and Psychodynamic Play Therapy. The paper considers the best location to implement play techniques, by urging the counselor to be aware of the setting's location within the building, ease of cleaning, available space, and …

Play Therapy, Melissa M. Sitzmann

Graduate Research Papers

Play therapy is a current trend in school and mental health counseling that takes into account the importance of play for a child's self -expression. It is primarily used with children ranging from three to ten years in age (Knell, 1995). Play therapy is not a theory that stands alone; counselors utilizing play therapy draw from their personal theoretical orientation and blend it with play as the primary means of communication (Cochran, 1996).

The purpose of this paper is to describe play therapy skills. In addition, two theories of play therapy that could be implemented in a school setting will …

Rebuilding Little Lives : Using Play Therapy With Traumatized Children, Denise E. Maas

Graduate Research Papers

In this paper, the author will attempt to assist therapists with their work with traumatized children using play therapy. The discussion includes signs and symptoms that a traumatized child may exhibit. In addition, the paper will contain selected therapeutic powers of play and how they can aid in the treatment of traumatized children. The case examples provided throughout this paper are actual experiences taken from the author's clinical practice in a hospice setting.