HEADER: Annotated Bibliography 1 Annotated Bibliography SWRK 620 Emma Stutz September 27, 2020 HEADER: Annotated Bibliography 2 Drisko, James et al. "Is Individual Child Play Therapy Effective?" Research on social work practice 30.7 (2019): 104973151985415–723. Web. Play therapy is widely publicized and used because children may be developmentally unready or unable to express and explore their feelings, thoughts, and social behaviors. Play therapy is a structured approach that builds on the normal communicative and learning processes of children. Play therapy is an interpersonal process between a trained clinician and an individual child used to prevent or resolve a child's mental health and behavior difficulties. These children clients are usually between the ages of 4-12 years. As early as the 1930s, social workers were involved with using play therapy. Individual child play therapy is significant, but not all treatments will benefit all clients, settings, and needs. Play therapy warrants a place in clinician practice for a range of childhood concerns. Play therapy fits very well with a child's style of communication and growth. Play therapy has always been in interest because you can learn a lot from a child in this setting without trying hard or making the child communicate directly. Levy, Alan J. "Neurobiology and the Therapeutic Action of Psychoanalytic Play Therapy with Children." Clinical Social Work Journal 39.1 (2011): 50– 60. Web. This article aims to focus on the neurobiological aspects of the therapeutic action of play therapy. During play with a child integrates diverse neural processing models because of its inherently enactive and verbal nature. Complex self-other configurations develop in play therapy because of its intrinsic integration of multiple experiential modes. Therapists who engage children through play is a major therapeutic issue in psychoanalytic play therapy. Play therapy inherently involves the body in that entails both the manipulation of external objects and bodily excitement. Psychoanalytic play treatment constitutes a process through which children co-create meaning through relationships with their therapists. From a social work standpoint, psychoanalytic play therapy is a necessary creative endeavor. During moments when a client becomes unhinged is when therapeutic changes are most profound. The nature of play therapy fosters organization and integration of neurobiological processes and experience. Hung, Elsa Ngai, Grace Suk-Man Leung, and Johnson Chun-Sing Cheung. "Responding to Children's 'emotion Talk': a Conversation Analysis of a Therapeutic Encounter Between a Social Worker and Two Siblings Using Child-Centered Play Therapy." Journal of social work practice 33.4 (2019): 433–445. Web This article uses conversation analysis to examine a social worker's interactions in child-centered play therapy with siblings with rivalry issues. Children-centered play therapy is a non-directive approach for children with behavioral and emotional problems. CCPT allows children to explore and express their feelings freely while in a play. When children become aware of their feelings, they are empowered by creativity and problem-solving strategies and resume control of their lives. Play therapy between siblings provides the children with opportunities to focus and work on their relationships. The siblings can verbalize their feelings towards one another and explore coping with disagreements under a trained social worker. HEADER: Annotated Bibliography 3 In social work intervention, emotional work is very relevant to young clients. Being able to help clients understand and manage emotions is crucial in social work. Social workers aim to help clients access and express their feelings. During conversation analysis, the sessions are recorded for social workers to observe and reflect on the integration of theory and practice. Conversation analysis enhances social workers' reflexivity during the application of child-centered play therapy. Humble, Jaxon J et al. "Child-Centered Play Therapy for Youths Who Have Experienced Trauma: a Systematic Literature Review." Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma 12.3 (2019): 365–375. Web. This article focuses on the effectiveness of child-centered play therapy for youths who have experienced traumatic events. This article also focused on findings regarding outcomes related to internalizing problems, self-concept, and self-competence. There was significant variability in the outcome methods used to evaluate effects and the overall conclusions regarding the use of child-centered play therapy to treat children who have experienced traumatic events. In CCPT, therapists use a playroom with carefully selected toys to elicit communication of the child's view of the experiences. I have witness CCPT used on youth clients, and it was interesting. The therapist would change the toys between each client. The would even change the setting depending on what that client experienced. A few of the clients never even had to speak to express their feelings. On the other hand, some clients felt silly playing with toys and would try and use words to express emotions. Turns, Brie A, and Jonathan Kimmes. "'I'm NOT the Problem!' Externalizing Children's 'Problems' Using Play Therapy and Developmental Considerations." Contemporary Family Therapy 36.1 (2014): 135–147. Web. This article focuses on how parents bring children to therapy because the parents think they have a problem. Children will often internalize negative perspectives from others and create an identity based on this. This article is for marriage and family therapies to integrate narrative and play therapy techniques for children and their families. Eric Erickson's psychological stage is used to ensure that developmentally appropriate methods are being used. Most children are involuntary clients and brought in by parents stating there is something wrong with the child. Integrating narrative and play therapies allows children to understand and participate in removing the blame and creating a separate identity for the problem. As a social worker, I understand taking your child for therapy because you think they need help or have problems as the parent. However, I can't entirely agree with putting the child through the treatment by themselves. I think the parent should sit in on sessions and be involved and try to understand the child. At least sit in on sessions to build rapport with your child and the therapist. Kool, R. & Lawver, T. (2010). Play Therapy Considerations and Applications for the Practitioner. Psychiatry (Edgemont). 7(10), 19-24. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2989834 Play therapy represents a unique form of treatment that is not only geared toward young children but is translated into a language child can comprehend and utilize the language of play. This HEADER: Annotated Bibliography 4 article focuses on play therapy's theoretical underpinnings, practical considerations, and current research. There needs to be a sound understanding of the underlying theory and principles that educate the decision regarding compatibility with the patient's development level and ability to engage. Bray, B. (2018). The Therapy Behind the Play Therapy. Retrieved 27 September 2020, from https://ct.counseling.org/2018/08/the-therapy-behind-plat-therapy/# This article focuses on how play therapy is a natural therapy for children and helps them open up and make better connections. Those not trained in the theory might be skeptical of the effectiveness of allowing a child to explore a room full of art supplies, stuffed animals, and toys for the length of the therapy session. Under the broad umbrella of play, therapy focuses on methods and approaches, ranging from child-centered, filial, and dyadic to animal-assisted play therapy. Each client in play therapy will need a tailored approach and a different degree of involvement from the counselor. Play therapy provides a supportive, therapeutic environment and, therefore, an incubator for learning and healing. Play therapy gives clients a safe space to explore what it feels like to be in control with learning opportunities presenting themselves at every turn. Getz, L. (2011). The Power of Play Therapy. Social Work Today, 11(3), 20. Retrieved from https://www.socialworktoday.com/archive/051711p20.shtml Social workers and other therapists have long used forms of play to communicate with younger clients, but to be trained in play therapy means following a prescribed model to help meet those clients' needs. Play therapy is a specialized area of practice and a way to relate to clients who cannot verbalize their feelings. Because of this, therapy happens through play. In child-centered play therapy, the therapist observes as the child is allowed to select from an array of toys and play whichever way he or she likes. In sand tray play therapy, which is becoming increasingly popular with registered play therapists, the child may use figurines to develop the sand scenes. In filial play therapy, the parents get involved. The therapist teaches the parents how to interact with the child through play, hopefully closing a communication gap that may have existed. As play therapy becomes more respected among social workers and other professionals, there's a simultaneous shift away from the play in other areas of our culture. Computers are replacing educational toys in elementary classrooms, and some schools have cut recess short or even eliminated it. The movement away from play at school and home is also affecting how parents let their children play. Chirico, I., Andrei, F., Salvatori, P., Malaguti, I., & Trombini, E. (2019). The Focal Play Therapy: A Clinical Approach to Promote Child Health and Family Well-being. Frontiers In Public Health, 7. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2019.00077 Focal Play Therapy with children and parents is a psychodynamic model of intervention that improves parental ability to cope with a child's difficulties. Parental engagement in child interventions allows one to understand a child's symptoms within family dynamics and build an alliance with parents that represents a crucial variable of significant psychological support for children and families. Focal Play Therapy with children and parents is a psychodynamic model of intervention specifically designed for a child's eating and evacuation disorders. Parents are HEADER: Annotated Bibliography 5 actively involved in the play, and particular emphasis is given to the parent-therapist alliance's early building. Effective interventions for children are needed since eating and evacuation disorders currently represent one of the most frequent reasons for referral to pediatric and infant mental health clinics. Most child-focused interventions involve parents who are responsible for several aspects of the therapeutic process. In this context, clinicians have to build a relationship with parents based on a mutual understanding of their problems and their collaboration/agreement about child therapy goals and tasks. Attention to the parental engagement in child treatment has recently increased, emphasizing implementing successful treatments into community settings, identifying methods to provide services more efficiently, and improving the quality of care for children and families. Homeyer, L. & Morrison, M. (2008). Play Therapy Practice, Issues, and Trends. Retrieved 27 September 2020, from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1069021.pdf Play therapy is an effective means of responding to young children's mental health needs and is widely accepted as a valuable and developmentally appropriate intervention. In service to involuntary clients, the play draws children and adolescents into a working alliance. In this nonthreatening environment, children and adolescents are more willing to engage in the therapeutic process. Using pretend play during role-playing allows children to try on different roles and try out alternative behaviors. Role-playing provides children with the ability to develop empathy to understand other people in their lives. Play therapists are mental health professionals trained specifically to use children's play based on therapeutic interaction. Play therapy has a rich history of practice and research. The development of play therapy paralleled the development of the mental health field in general.
