CHAPTER 6

COUNSELING
INTERVENTIONS FOR
CHILDREN
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Discuss play therapy from the perspective of
concepts, strengths, practitioner
characteristics, process and strategies;
Explain different types of creative art therapy
for conducting counseling sessions
systematically;
Elaborate on the story-telling therapy from
the perspective of key concepts, procedure
and product;

LEARNING OUTCOMES
Elaborate on art therapy from the perspective
of key concepts, procedure and product;
Elaborate on music therapy from the
perspective of key concepts, procedure and
product;
Elaborate on drama therapy from the
perspective of key concepts, procedure and
product;
Elaborate on dance therapy from the
perspective of key concepts, procedure and
product;

LEARNING OUTCOMES
Elaborate on bibliotherapy counseling from
the perspective of key concepts, procedures
and product;
Compare and contrast between the different
types of creative art therapies as counseling
interventions for children;
Apply various kinds of counseling
interventions for children including play
therapy and creative art therapies to help
children cope with their problems.


We are never more fully alive, more
completely ourselves, or more
deeply engrossed in anything than
when we are playing Charles
Schaefer


Applying Play into Your
Counseling
Play, art, story-telling, and music can be
integrated with multiple theoretical approaches
Play can be used as a medium within a
counseling session to bring ease to any aged
child
Lets watch this video clip
..\..\Desktop\Play Therapy Works!.avi
History of Play Therapy
Sigmund Freud first used PT in 1909
Carl Rogers introduced person-centered theory
Virginia Axline-created non-directive play therapy



PLAY THERAPY: Concept
Children understand their world better;
Provides opportunity for them to discover and
explore their own identities;
The symbolic element opens up opportunities for
them to investigate and assess their options in
an imaginative manner;
A therapeutic setting is produced through the
play activity.

Play therapy is
Symbolic
The world of the child
Acts out real life conflicts and issues
Fun
Play therapy is just that -- it is not a talking
therapy, but it can lead to that.

Typical Goals of Therapy
Enhance childs self
control, self-concept,
and self-efficacy.
Help child become
aware of his or her
feelings.
Have a place where
child can feel safe in
exploration of self.
Learn and practice
self-control and
alternative behaviors.
Develop capacity to
trust adults.
Develop capacity to
relate to an adult in an
open, positive and
caring manner.
Definition of Play Therapy
Play therapy is the systematic use of a
theoretical model to establish an interpersonal
process wherein trained play therapist use the
therapeutic powers of play to help clients prevent
or resolve psychological difficulties and achieve
optimal growth and development. (Association for Play
Therapy Board, March 1997)
Reasons for Play therapy
When there is limited contact with family
members, i.e., when child is in foster care,
residential treatment, or victim of abuse.
Children who are
appropriate for Play Therapy
1. The child can tolerate and use a relationship
with an adult;
2. Has the capacity for learning new behaviors;
3. Can have insight into motivations of him or her
self and others
4. Has the ability to pay attention and have
cognitive organization skills.

Children who are appropriate
for Play Therapy
4. Play is the most appropriate method of
treatment at this time;
5. There is someone available, and with the skills
or has access to training and supervision.
Types of Play Therapy
Directive Play Therapy
Non-Directive Play Therapy
Theories of Play Therapy
Directive
Cognitive behavioral
Gestalt
Developmental
SFBT

Non-Directive
Child-centered
Jungian
Psychoanalytic

Directive Play Therapy
Directive - Counselor leads or guides session
Creative activities are used to guide counseling
sessions in order to gauge the thoughts, feelings,
and behaviors of the client
Goal oriented
Allows for specific evidence of change and
growth in the child
Techniques:
Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy
The emphasis is on developing
new, more adaptive thoughts and
behaviors
The counselor uses techniques
to guide student in using more
helpful coping strategies to deal
with problems
Pairs concrete examples with
abstract ideas and emotions
Methods of Play Therapy
Sand Tray
Imaginative Play
Puppet Play
Art/Crafts

Play Therapy Space
12 by 15 foot room
Sand Table
Sink
Privacy
Doll House
Secure shelves for holding favorite objects
Counter top space, with table and chairs

Equipment
Puppets
Sand Play
Games
Doll Houses
Almost any toys
Paper and Crayons
Cars and Trucks
Toy guns and knives
Costumes, dress-up
Play Doh
Water play
Games i.e, cards,
checkers,
Sock Puppets
Art - House Tree
Person, Family
Play Mobile Dolls

Sand Tray
Group Sand Tray
Toys Needed for Play
Therapy Room
Scary toys
Clients can use
these to deal with
fears
Plastic monsters,
snakes, bugs,
bears, lions,
dinosaurs
Nurturing Toys
Clients can use
these to play out
family relationships
and events
Doll house, dolls,
puppets, baby
dolls, baby doll
supplies, kitchen
set
Source: InAPT conference 2005
Toys Needed for Play Therapy
Room
Aggressive Toys
Clients use these to
express anger and
aggression and
explore power and
control issues
Guns, play knives,
hammer and nails,
toy soldiers,
punching bag
Expressive Toys
Clients use these to
explore
relationships,
express feelings,
deal with
problem/solution
Crayons, paper,
scissors, paint,
craft items.
Source: InAPT conference 2005
Toys Needed for Play Therapy
Room
Pretend/Fantasy Toys
Clients can use these to explore different
roles, hidden feelings, and alternative
behaviors
Masks, hats, doctors kit, zoo and farm
animals, building materials, jewelry
Source: InAPT conference 2005
Lets watch this video clip
..\..\Desktop\Sandplay Therapy - An
Introduction by Patricia Dunn-Fierstein.
Filmed & Edited by Garrett Fierstein.avi
Techniques: Tracking
The counselor is an
observer
The counselor restates
what the child is doing
without adding negative
or positive statements
Children are allowed to
process on their own
without counselor
interpretation
Challenges Related to Play
Therapy in the Schools
Lack of time available with students in a school
setting
Efficacy even greater when parents are
involved and the number of sessions ranges
from 30-35
Lack of training in play therapy for school
counselors
Cost of play materials
Non-traditional: need to advocate for it
Stage 1
Feeling of being
accepted as a result
of close rapport
Stage 2
Sharing of
repressed feelings
through catharsis
Stage 3
Exploring the
event/interpersonal
relationship
Stage 4
Obtaining
relationship
between past events
with thoughts,
feelings and current
behavior
Stage 5
Acting on alternative
solutions, and
striving until
success iss
accomplished

Stages In Play Therapy (ORTON)


Final Thoughts
Play therapy allows children to process and
proceed at their own pace
Developmentally appropriate
Works with culturally diverse children, labeled
children, and those experiencing trauma
Graduate students should be aware of and
trained in play therapy to face the needs they will
encounter in the school system
Questions?