Childhood Therapy
Childhood Therapy
Therapy is a valuable tool in psychotherapy with children; it is effective in the treatment of mental illness and trauma.
Therapy is a mechanism by which children learn to interact with the world and begin to understand social relationships. Therapy is a way for children to emotionally and mentally explore, be safe and master their competencies.
In contrast to adults, who are better able to express feelings verbally, children are more likely to communicate through play. This is why therapy does not sound conflicting because there are different styles of therapy so children and adults get more comfortable and open. Therapy allows children to directly or symbolically act out their thoughts and emotions.
Case study on Play Therapy
A seven-year-old girl was referred to getting therapy due to increased anxiety and refused to go to school. Six months previously her grandmother died suddenly and shortly after her father had a serious shoulder injury at his job. She began to exhibit symptoms of excessive worry, somatic symptoms, crying, and Nightmares. She began refusing to go to school and cried when forced to separate from her parents. She had frequent nightmares of monsters chasing her. She refused to sleep in her room and checked the locks on the doors multiple times before finally going to bed. Before her grandmother's death. She was calm but also slow to warm in new situations.
Principles of Therapy
The seven-year-old girl is at the ideal age range where she plays, and this is the language she uses to communicate. A researcher by the name of Axline, was one of the first researchers to identify the field of play therapy, emphasizing the child-centered approach to therapy. He identified eight guiding principles of therapy play:
1) Forming a warm, friendly, Therapeutic Alliance with the child.
2) Accepting a Child.
3) Establishing a therapeutic environment that fosters permissiveness.
4) Recognizing and reflecting on the feelings the child expresses.
5) Recognizing and respecting the child's ability to solve their problems.
6) Being non-directive and letting the child lead the therapy.
7) Recognizing that therapy is a gradual process.
8) Establishing limitations to Anchor therapy in reality.
Continuing Case Study
These principles were essential to follow during therapy, especially being the first visit, the child must be in a comfortable environment.
As the child started her initial appointment she had refused to leave her mother's side creating that attachment. As the child could not verbally discuss her problem her mother began discussing the recent events. As the sessions started to progress, the little girl started to examine her environment and she became infatuated with all the toys. The therapist noticed how she started looking at the toys so he offered to let her play with the toys, but she was still by her mother's side and didn't want to move. A few minutes later, after the therapist returned to converse with the mother, she slowly slid off the couch and started walking around the room, and briefly stopped to look at each toy until she settled in front of a large dollhouse. She started to inspect each ball while looking over her shoulder at the therapist and her mother before she picked up each one.
During the first phase of treatment, which includes the initial session, evaluation, and formulation, therapists are to be sensitive to the needs of the parent or guardian and the child.
As the girl began to continuously go to the sessions she was able to separate from her mother during therapy. This caused the mother to be able to leave the room and have her daughter be in the room with just the therapist. As the little girl continued playing with the doll quietly and did
As the treatments start to progress it is necessary for a child to feel comfortable enough to separate from the parent or guardian. A child should be allowed to decide what to do during each session. So the child doesn't feel they are being controlled and the therapist is to be non-directive. This maximizes the child's ability to express their internal and external conflict more freely and take ownership of their treatment.
During the follow-up of the sessions, the little girl allowed the therapist to engage in the play by letting the therapist play with the doll. This caused the little girl to verbally express her character. Imaginative play allows children to have a sense of control over situations. The little girl verbally expressed how she had no control over her father's injury, the loss of her grandmother, or the stress that is happening in the family.
Conclusion
Therapy is a developmentally appropriate approach to treating children and has been shown to have beneficial effects. By creating a safe holding environment in the playroom, children can communicate through fantasy, imagination, and displacement. Here is the proper diagram of how a child's development should be.
Resources
Lawrence Rubin (2018). Elaine Gil on Play Therapy and Working with Traumatized Children. Psychotherapy.net.https://www.psychotherapy.net/interview/eliana-gil-play-therapy
Keith Sutton (2010). Madeline Levine on Psychotherapy with Adolescents. Psychotherapy.net.https://www.psychotherapy.net/interview/madeline-levine-adolescent-psychotherapy
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